Swans to host 2016 Champs!
It’s been another successful year on and off the field for the Vietnam Swans, but 2016 is already shaping up to be our biggest ever! While the finer details will emerge over the coming months, I wanted to wrap up a massive year of Swans footy to let you all in on the fantastic news that we have been confirmed as the host country of the 2016 AFL Asian Championships, to be held in the second half of the year at RMIT Saigon!
Coming on the back of the news that the Jakarta Bintangs will be our opponents for a special 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan Anzac Friendship Game, 2016 will be an important year for the Swans and one I’m already looking forward to.
Awards Dinners
I warmly invite all players, supporters, friends and family to join us at Al Frescos tomorrow night when the Swannies will once again join with our sister club The Saigon Ladies Gaels, to give out a few awards and recount another great year of Vietnam footy.
There is much to celebrate. For the second year running the Swans have played more games than any other AFL Asia Club, having hit the field for 17 official AFL Asia games and finishing the year second on the ladder with a solid 9 win-8 loss record, headlined by our Anzac Day and Manila Cup victories.
Swans awards will include:
– The Nick Shiels President’s Award for the Best Clubman
– The Coaches Most Improved Award
– The Rick Trewavas ‘players player’ medal
– The Luke Creamer Best and Fairest vote count
I am pleased to announce that on Saturday night we will also be inducting a new Swannie into the illustrious Swans Hall of Fame and presenting a new award, the Vietnam Swans Community Service Award, to be presented by our National Charity partner, Swim Vietnam.
Swans in the north of the country will also have the chance to celebrate the year that was the following Friday 11th December at The Republic, where I’m pleased to also announce one of the founding fathers of Swans footy will be further immortalised with the newly named “Mick Francis Medal” to be presented to the highest placed Hanoi-based Swan in the National vote count.
Details –
Saturday 5 Dec (from 7pm) – Swans and Gaels National Awards Dinner, Al Fresco’s 89 Xuân Thủy, D2. RSVP (pay on arrival)
Friday 11 Dec (from 7.30pm) – Hanoi Swans End of Season Dinner, The Republic, 7a Quang An, Tay Ho
Saigon 9’s and AGM
Our second season of Saigon 9’s mixed footy successfully kicked off last weekend at RMIT and will be on again this Saturday from 2-4pm, with our AGM to follow at the ground.
By all reports our four teams looked splendid in the fabulous new Ross McRae designed playing singlets, representing our sponsors Wide Eyed Tours, Commonwealth Bank, CVP and Dragon Industry Holdings for this fun, social competition over the AFL Asia off-season.
Interested in playing 9’s –
Interested in hearing about plans for 2016 and putting up your hand to help out? –
Swim Vietnam says “Thank you”
While proud of our achievements on the field this year, I am just as proud of our continued efforts off it, having further expanded upon our long-standing relationship with Swim Vietnam through our new Central Vietnam Games initiative and recently launching the “Vietnam Swans Swim Teacher of the Month”.
Since 2010, the Swans have raised over US$40,000 for Swim Vietnam, which has gone directly towards pool construction, teacher and student education programs and helped Swim Vietnam grow in to an organisation which now has a significant impact on drowning prevention in Vietnam. A great achievement that all past and present players and supporters should be proud of!
In addition to our work with Swim Vietnam, we have this year also formed new relationships with and and will continue to support the through our Anzac Friendship Game and Vung Tau Bootcamp. Congratulations to all involved.
If you haven’t seen it yet, make sure you check out this great video made by the team at Swim Vietnam, which will guarantee to put a smile on your face!
2016 ANZAC Friendship Game
We are stoked the Jakarta Bintangs have confirmed they will travel to Vung Tau for the 2016 Anzac Friendship Match, to be held once again at the Lord Mayor’s oval on Saturday 23rd April.
The Swans’ biggest home game of the year continues to grow in stature, with the 2016 game to be no exception. Record crowds are expected for this significant Anzac Day in this 50th Anniversary year of the Battle of Long Tan, which will also see the return of the McMillan Dinner on Saturday night and dawn service on the following Monday morning. Check out the article on our website for more details, including a great photo from the archive of everyone’s favorite Uncle collecting the choccies in the Swannies historic first ever win against the Bintangs way back in 2006… More >>>
Asian Champs
It may not have been our most successful Asian Champs on the field but all Swannies can hold their heads high with a strong contingent representing the Club with aplomb in Bangkok in October. While starting the day confidently, narrowly loosing our first two games by a kick, injuries to key players and the increased competitiveness of the new 2-division format made going tough on a hot and humid day at Harrow International School. To their credit all players never gave in and put in some great efforts, with Tim Pickert rewarded for his toughness and attack on the footy with selection into the All-Asian team. Congrats Timmy!
Results:
Game 1 Malaysia Warriors 15 d Swans 9
Game 2 Philippine Eagles 15 d Swans 10
Game 3 Jakarta Bintangs 23 d Swans 3
Game 4 HK Dragons 30 d Swans 6
At the President’s meeting at Champs, I am pleased to report that AFL Asia and Club Presidents have confirmed RMIT Saigon as the venue for the 2016 Champs, the first time that we will have hosted this premier event on the Asian footy calendar. This will require a massive effort next year but one that I am confident we will pull off with the strong support I have already received from RMIT and Committee members.
While dates and format are still being discussed, I can confirm that as part of our bid we would like to host the first ever game of women’s footy at Champs, which we think would be a great step forward for the game in Asia and a great reflection of the inclusive nature of our Club.
It all makes for an exciting 2016, I hope you can join us for it!
In Melbourne over Christmas?
Vietnam Swans’ 9th Annual Test Cricket Day, AFL Members Pavilion, MCG – 28 December
Tickets: Between $36 and $51 depending on numbers. Need to confirm numbers ASAP with [email protected]
Vietnam Swans’ 11th Annual Ryan Jeffery Golf Classic – Venue and date TBC (maybe 29th or 30th) – pls confirm interest and availability with [email protected]
On behalf of the Committee, playing group and my family, I sincerely thank you for your valued and ongoing support of the best footy club in Asia! We wish you a safe and festive off-season and hope you can join us for our end of season dinners in Saigon and Hanoi.
Cheers,
Grant Keys
National President
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