We’re a few days out from the big day! Meet our special guest for the Saigon event, Peter Schwab.

2019 AFL GRAND FINAL EVENTS IN VIETNAM

The 2019 AFL Grand Final will happen on Saturday September 28. You can catch the game in Vietnam at one of the Swannies premier functions, with brunch/lunch and free-flow drinks included!

If you’re not in Saigon or Hanoi, you can also catch the game at:

peter 106A SPECIAL GUEST: PETER SCHWAB

AFL great Peter Schwab will be joining us on Saturday!

Peter had a distinguished playing career in the AFL/VFL, with a 12 season career with Hawthorn. Not only did Peter win three flags, but he also missed the 1989 Grand Final after a suspension for striking an Essendon player.

Peter has gone on to hold coaching roles with Richmond and Hawthorn, and even managed the AFL Umpiring Department for 2 years!

We are very lucky to have Peter hosting the Vietnam Swans AFL Grand Final Party in Saigon!

A HAWKS LEGEND

Peter has received life membership to Hawthorn Football Club and even gets a tribute in the Hawks Museum!

B&G - Peter Schwab James Morrissey Von Angwin

From the Hawks:

Recruited from Bennettswood, Peter Schwab served his apprenticeship in the Reserves where he played 99 games having already played 30 games with the under 19s. This was Hawthorn’s way of instilling the Club’s values and teaching how you were expected to play.  Schwab played over 75 reserve games before he cemented a regular spot in the senior team.

Football and Hawthorn had a very strong connection with the Schwab family.  Schwab’s father Frank umpired the 1961 grand final when the Hawks won their first Premiership defeating Footscray.  In later years Frank was a keen observer at training on a Thursday night with a group of friends, considered by some as the unofficial team selectors.

Schwab played his first game in Round 21, 1980 enjoying a win against South Melbourne.  He kicked 3 behinds with his 23 disposals.  Considered a utility player with the attitude of team first, he was frequently given tough tagging assignments, with his ability to limit the effectiveness of star opposition players making him a vital cog in the team.

He played in the 1983, 1986 and 1988 premierships, but missed the 1989 flag through a suspension which was considered out of character.  A treasured highlight, Schwab played an outstanding game in the centre in the 1988 Grand Final being listed amongst the best players.  He was also a member of the losing Grand Final sides of 1984, 1985 and 1987.

After retiring in 1991 and wanting to stay in football he joined Richmond as an assistant coach in 1992 under Allan Jeans who was then coaching the Tigers, before returning to Hawthorn as assistant coach to Ken Judge in 1996 and 1997.

Perhaps influenced by his father’s umpiring career, he then joined the AFL Umpiring Department for two years, before returning to Hawthorn as coach from 2000-2005.  He took Hawthorn into the finals in his first year.  They defeated Geelong in the first elimination final, but the following week they were eliminated by Kangaroos in the semi final.  He took the Hawks to the finals again in 2001, where they defeated Sydney in the elimination final and they then defeated Port Adelaide in the semi final. They eventually lost to Essendon by a kick in a thriller at the MCG in the Preliminary Final.

Schwab’s football journey continued on, he coached football at Wesley College for a number of years, served as Chairman on the AFL Match Review Panel, then became Chief Executive Officer of AFL Victoria for four years until 2010.  In November 2013, Schwab took on the role of Senior Director of Coaching and Development with the Brisbane Lions providing support to Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch and has since returned to coaching junior football at Wesley College.

THE BIG QUESTIONS

With such a great career, there is a lot we want to know! We’ll have the chance to ask Peter his thoughts on a wide range of topics… on our mind are the following:

On Peter’s playing career:

  • Who was the best player that you ever played with?
  • You spent a lot of your time as a tagger: who was the toughest player you played against?
  • What was the greatest sledge that you heard on the field?
  • The Hawk’s were flying in the 80’s, with regular premierships. How did the Club keep the hunger for success?
  • As a player, you must have been rockstars around town in that era! Any notable stories?
  • Given you were suspended from the 89 gf win how hard was it to watch from the grand stands? How hard(or not) was it to ‘celebrate’ with the hawks after such an epic win?

On coaching and umpiring:

  • Who was the best player you’ve coached?
  • 2001 was the super draft. You had the chance to pick up Chris Judd, but went with Luke Hodge. Why?
  • The Hawks were getting beaten up by the Bombers in the early 2000s. Allegedly, you told the players that Bomber Mark Johnson wasn’t to walk of the field. Any truth in that story?
  • In your opinion how would Toby Greene have felt last weekend on the sidelines and then getting the chance this week? Now with the umpiring hat… what do you make of his last 2 games and tribunal visits?
  • Given your time at the Brisbane Lions as List Manager, the 2016 draft must surely be a highlight. It was a draft that  focussed on players that the Lions could retain long term. The pairing of best mates Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry along with another close mate in Alex Witherden was a masterstroke. How do you feel when the likes of McCluggage, Berry, Witherden and even Cedric Cox from the same draft are all starting to taste success and make a name for themselves?

Got something else you want to know? Message us via the Swan’s Facebook!

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE EVENT?

You can read all about the event over here.

TICKETS TO THE SAIGON EVENT

With an event capacity of over 200 people, this will be the best AFL Grand Final event the city has ever seen. Whether it’s your first or 100th AFL Grand Final this is an event not to be missed!

Tickets are available now from:

See you there!