Swannies’ hat seen in AFL House!
Posted by Vietnam Swans on January 18, 2012
The AFL's Tony Woods wears his Swaannies hat at AFL House.
Just prior to Christmas last month, the AFL’s Manager for International Development, Tony Woods, was snapped while wearing a Swannies’ hat in AFL House.
Swannies’ National President, Phil Johns, caught up with him for a coffee.
Timmay Clements (black Swannies' shirt at back), with his "150 Years of Football" at last year's Swannies AFL Grand Final Party in Saigon.
Tony was saying that the AFL has set a target of having at least one player from China playing in the AFL in the next five years. He also envisages having an “AFL Asia”, similar to AFL Europe in the next 3-5 years.
Tony remarked that the AFL is very much aware of the Vietnam Swans and congratulated us on our many and varied initiatives. He also generously donated a match footy to be used in this year’s ANZAC Friendship Match which he said he was “hopeful” of attending.
The painting behind Tony in the photo above hangs in the foyer of AFL House at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne. The painting, “The Game that made Australia”, was commissioned by the AFL to celebrate 150 years of football in 2008.
You may recall that a replica of this painting, signed by Kevin Sheedy, was donated by Kenny Earney to the Vietnam Swans’ AFL Grand Final Party in Saigon last year.
The replica was bought by the Swannies’ Timmay Clements, a big time fan of Kevin Sheedy.