Nha Trang Weekend

Are you coming to Nha Trang on 19 – 20 April?? Why wouldn’t ya?

There will be a cracking footy match as well as rugby. Confirm your attendance by contacting Symmo or the Club President.

(Yes, “Hanoi Hawks” has been mentioned on the poster for this state of origin match as the Hanoi Hawks preceded the Hanoi Swans. But for lovers of the Vietnam Swans, please note the red and white colouring on the poster).

Saigon Saints

For those of you who want to learn more about the history of the Saigon Saints footy club, tune into vietnamswans.com to read a posting by Pago on the 10th anniversary of the Sainters.

Footy Tipping

The footy tipping comp started last weekend. To read the summary of what happened, check out the post Round 1 analysis by Muzza the Tip Star at vietnamswans.com

Grand Final Thought

As the poster above says, “Go large” – but don’t go back home.

The discovery of the Swans hat in such a place gives added weight to suspicions that our hats are spreading further and faster than a nest of randy rabbits!

Phillip Island will host the 2008 Grand Prix and Superbikes in March.

Kev first met the Swans when we participated in Austrade’s Australian Schools Open Day back in May. Since then, Kev has become a keen and loyal participant.

When we were raffling mega bottles of Jim Beam to raise money for our Asian Championships campaign, he was there buying tickets for himself and selling tickets to everyone else. When we asked him to draw one of the raffles, he drew his friend Kerrie. Kerrie had won the previous week and kindly donated the bottle back to the Club. Kev drew again and this time drew his own name – and ‘kindly donated the bottle back to the Club’! We didn’t ask Kev to draw any more competitions after that…

Kev spoke with his contacts at M-Gard mouthguards who agreed to sponsor a mouthguard for every Swans player at the Champs. The mouthguards are the best fitting and most comfortable you will ever find.

At the Champs, Kev was everything. Wearing a Brisbane Lions shirt, he ran the water for the Swans. When he tired of that, he pulled on a jumper and played for us against the Thailand Tigers. The following day, wearing a China Reds shirt at the Fines’ Session, he was unexpectedly fined for continually wearing shirts not approved by the Swans hierarchy.

When the Hong Kong Dragons toured to Saigon on 1 September 2007, Kev was there again; this time as goal umpire. In the last quarter, he decided he could offer the Swans more help at full forward rather than as goal umpire. Accordingly, he told the Swans full forward to swap jobs! (See Kev Dacey’s match report.)

Kevan Dacey, you have been a super star. Good luck for your return to Australia. The Vietnam Swans hope to see you again back in Vietnam some time soon – or at the next Asian Champs.

For those of you who aren’t fully familiar with Rod Ashman, Rod used to play for the Eaglehawk Football Club (near Bendigo, Victoria) and managed to pick up the Best and Fairest in 1972…

But as well as Eaglehawk, Rod went on to play 230 games for Carlton and played in their back to back premiership teams in 1981 and 1982. He was also named in Carlton’s Team of the Century as a forward pocket (apparently for the Blues Team of the 21st Century, the selectors are still waiting to see who plays in 2099 before committing).

The 2007 Saigon Saints Vietnam Airlines AFL Grand Final Brunch will be held on Saturday 29 September at the Legend Hotel. As well as Rod Ashman, it will feature a live telecast of the Grand Final on big screens, free flow wine and beer, a full day buffet and raffles - all for just 600,000VND (USD38).

All proceeds from the event will go to the Loreto Vietnam-Australia Program.

The event has a maximum of 240 guests (30 were turned away last year) and already 120 tickets have been allocated for sponsors and those travelling from Vung Tau and Australia.

The remaining tickets go on sale on 1 September – but the Saigon Rugby Football Club - which played a big part in the Vietnam Swans inaugural campaign at the Asian Champs – also has access to tickets.

For those wanting to sign up, email the SRFC Prez, Chris “Fines Master” Pago. Or, contact Darren Cotter the organiser of the Grand Final Day on dcotter@hcm.fpt.vn  

Whatever you do, if you’re going to be in Saigon on 29 September, there’s only one place you will want to be: at the 2007 Saigon Saints Vietnam Airlines AFL Grand Final Brunch.

PS Keep your eyes peeled for the revolutionary Countdown Clock to the AFL Grand Final on the Swans Blog. It’s set to appear soon and is expected to be awwwwwwesome. 

Nevertheless, it seems that the world’s financial markets have noticed, have been spooked and have plunged accordingly – as clearly shown in the attached graphs. George W. is taking no chances and has already directed former Fed Chairman, Alan Greenspan, to visit the Swans hierarchy. Apparently, Alan believes there has been some “irrational exuberance” surrounding the Swans of late.

“And why wouldn’t you be irrational?” adds Bill Lawry. “A great club, great record, great people. Perfect day for football today, here at Dead Cat Stadium in Hanoi…”. 

Bill might just be on to something. The Hong Kong Dragons, winners of the 2007 Asian Championships are confirmed to tour Vietnam (HCMC) on 1 September – as are the Brunei Sharks on 13 October and Thailand Tigers on 17 November.

Additionally, today word was received from the Malaysian Warriors that they would welcome a tour by the Swans in Feb/March and they want to play in Vietnam again next year. Meanwhile, our Elephant friends over in Laos have floated the idea of touring to Vietnam before the end of the year (more on this mega story later).

We also have two mega Grand Final events in Vietnam on 29 September. In Hanoi, the Official Vietnam Swans 2007 AFL Grand Final Party will be held at Jaspas. In Saigon, continuing a very fine tradition,  the Saigon Saints Grand Final Brunch will be held at the Legend Hotel.

Irrational or not, there are serious quantities of exuberance in Vietnam when it comes to footy. And that’s why everyone keeps honking their horns.

Irrespective of world financial markets, Alan will be doing well to stop the flow of exuberance over here.

Mark Waugh: Oh, I remember you from a couple of years ago in Australia. You were sh*t then and you’re fu*king useless now!

Adam Parore (turning around): Yeah, that’s me. And when I was there, you were going out with that old, ugly slut. And now I hear you’ve married her. You dumb c*nt. 

Viv: This is my island; my culture. Don’t you be staring at me. In my culture, we just bowl.

Merv still didn’t reply.

But after he took Viv’s wicket, Big Merv glared at him and said: In my culture, we just say f*ck off.

Waugh: F*ck me. Look who it is. Mate, what are you doing out here? There’s no way you’re good enough to play for England.

Ormond: Maybe not, but at least I’m the best player in my family.

This Championship has modified rules and a unique format where there are just 9 players per team and 6 substitutes who play on – a soccer pitch. The games have 2 x 12 minute halves which, according to the organisers, leads to “a faster more action packed game – fun for spectators and players alike”.

The Geckos go on to say that, “the event provides a great opportunity to enjoy footy in Bali – a great attraction for end-of-season club trips or to travel with a bunch of mates to create a team. Entry is now open for teams. With the big interest being shown in this year’s event, it is most likely entry will be on a first in first served basis – so get your entry in today.

“The event will once again be part of commemorative activities honouring the memory of those lost in the Bali bombings and a percentage of money raised on the day will be donated to a local charity that supports those affected by the Bali bombing. The event will also act as part of Bali’s tourist recovery – helping to bring Bali back to its well deserved recognition as Asia’s premier holiday and recreation destination in Asia.”

Jason McCartney and the Bali Bombings

The tournament has a great and growing reputation. At the 2003 tournament, the Bali 9′s received significant attention when ex AFLer Jason McCartney pulled on the Geckos jumper  – as did Australian Prime Minister, John Howard.

The two were in Bali for the first anniversary of the Bali bombings which happened on 12 October 2002. McCartney and his Kangaroos’ team mate, Micky Martyn were drinking at the Sari night club when the bomb exploded. McCartney suffered burns to 50 per cent of his body. Initially, his burns had been considered to be relatively quite minor. However, by the time McCartney arrived back in Australia, his condition had seriously deteriorated and he “almost died under the knife”.

Nine months later, in June 2003, McCartney made an amazing return to AFL football in the match between the Kangaroos and the Tigers. He was heavily bandaged, wore a long sleeved jumper and special gloves. He kicked a goal and then did a goal assist in the dying seconds of the match when the Kangaroos were trailing by less than a goal.

Immediately after the match, McCartney announced his retirement from AFL football.

“The sheer courage of McCartney’s return (makes) it one of the most inspirational sports-related stories” says the Wikipedia (click for more details).”  

At this stage, it is unlikely that the Vietnam Swans will be able to field a team at the 2007 Bali 9′s Tournament but we will be very keen observers from a distance.  

For further information on the tournament, try www.balinines.com

Upon learning of the Swans colour clash with every other club in South & North East Asia, these Einsteins collectively put on their thinking caps. They now have a Concept Design and Team Song (see Lao Elephants Concept Design) for their new uniforms which Michael Hassett helpfully offered to us. The Elephants ”doubt there will be a clash on grey and pink”.

The Swans, frankly, were disappointed with their concept and advised them accordingly:

“The trouble with you guys is that there is a big difference between ‘almost extinct’ and ‘extinct’. We fear we may have met you prematurely. Hearin’ us?”

The Elephants replied:

“Piss off duck or I’ll stomp your head”.

IQ’s of squashed moths. We’re Swans.