Grand Final "pin up boy" and Swannies Captain, Monkey, writes the match report.
Swans Captain, Danny Monk, writes the match report for last weekend’s clash in Jakarta for the Kainey Cup against the Jakarta Bintangs. The “Monkey” fails to refer to himself in the match report – that says more about the selfless Captain’s modesty than his on field performance on the day.
Big stakes were on offer against Jakarta last weekend. If the Kainey Cup wasn’t enough to get the blood flowing, Big Drew’s Final send off (as a resident) had the select group of travelling Swannies pumped for the b-i-g occasion:
“You can’t trade in Experience”, was Drew’s message – and we had plenty of it: Rooster, Fabbo and Flyer had a fat book of tricks up forward and were only too willing to give the large crowd of Indonesian Auskickers a free footballing lesson.
Angry Dave and the Mr President of Saigon, Derrin, took young first gamer ‘Max’ and the rest of the backline under their collective wing and got angry together.
The midfielders often hidden in the Shadow of the Big Man, Drew, were keen to feed off his scraps for one last time. Heath’s first tour and first time away from the wife in about 5 years resembled a Pit Bull terrier just let off the chain and he wanted to eat some footy or anyone that stood in his way.
There were some terrific efforts in the first half. Class oozed from Smooth Louis and Boomer Van der Meer and Fabbo’s sticky fingers produced a quality contested grab which he professionally banged through the big sticks.
Rooster was in everything and as usual often left a trail of destruction in his wake. Flyer capitalized on this and swooped on a loose ball to give the big sticks a small fright while our (Lao) Elephant Import, Langas, had himself and his nose in absolutely everything that went near him.
Gus, the Spiritual Leader of the Club, was once again busting his well groomed 6 pack and constantly floated the idea of getting himself forward. Persistence will get the Birdman where he belongs soon, Gus.
Gerry, free from his American ‘Seponess’ was getting his hands on the ball at will on the wing and it was impossible to wipe the smile from Max’s face after being buried in the turf from a gang of Bintangs but then getting his own back. Angry Dave just simmered across half back eyeing that centre square.
Big Drew, the little bloke in the photo, moments before he left Saigon's No. 5 Bar last Thursday, bound for the airport and Australia.
The 2nd half saw the rain come and the game slip away from the Swans. Heath when not wiping blood from his open wounds continued his fine form and was not ‘arguably’ the BOG, he simply was! Louis chipped in with a couple of awesome goals and Boomers Barrel in the wet had the Indonesian Auskickers reaching for their autograph books.
The effort by everyone involved could not be questioned and we all walk away from the game with that little bit more experience that cannot be traded in!
Thanks Drew for leading the way for so long and you’ve left some massive lime green boots to fill!
(Special thanks to Chris Batchelor (former Hanoian, now living in Jakarta) for lending a sneaker after an unfortunate blow out and our Indonesian Auskick graduates who added some much needed speed to our experienced team!)