Read all about it!

The Vietnam Swans National President, Phil “Fabbo” Johns sends out the season’s first global email. Read on!

Dear Swannies, Sponsors and Supporters

In the Vietnamese New Year, well may we welcome the Year of the Tiger, because nothing will save them from the Year of the Swannie!

2010 is shaping up to be another big year and we are hoping to make a couple of big announcements very soon. However, during the interim, please see below for an update on the Swannies Calendar:

1. Lao Elephants Vs Vietnam Swans
2. ANZAC Weekend, Vung Tau
3. Footy tipping comp and Supercoach
4. Training in Hanoi and Saigon resumes this week
5. Big Day Out recap
6. Making the news
7. National Sponsors

"Well may we welcome the Year of the Tiger, because nothing will save them from the Year of the Swannie!" Gough Whitlam, February 2010

1. Lao Elephants Vs Vietnam Swans

The Vietnam Swans first match for Season 2010 will be played against the Lao Elephants on 20 March in the land locked country of Vientiane, Lao.

2. ANZAC Weekend, Vung Tau

It is official. We will play a football match in Vung Tau (near Saigon) on ANZAC Weekend. The match will be played between Hanoi and Saigon at the Vung Tau Greyhound Racing Track on Saturday 24 April. The following morning, there will be the opportunity to attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Long Tan. We will return to Vung Tau for breakfast, watch the Dawn Service from Gallipoli on the Australian Network and then watch the Collingwood-Essendon match live from the MCG (before catching the ferry back to Saigon).

The first ever footy match in Vietnam was played by an Australian regiment in 1966 and then again in 1969, 1970 and 1971 (click here for full details from Wikipedia). If anyone knows the contact details of anyone associated with any of these matches, could you please forward to me.

More to follow.

3. Footy tipping comp and Supercoach

The Vietnam Swans AFL footy tipping comp is about to kick off for season 2010. It’s easy to play. Check here for full details.

If picking winners is too easy, you may want to get involved in all the detail and the strategy. If that sounds like you, you need to sign up for Supercoach.

Full details on these two Swannies Comps can be found here.

4. Training in Hanoi and Saigon resumes this week

This week, the Vietnam Swans resume training after the TET Lunar New Year holidays in both Hanoi and Saigon.

Hanoi –     Thursday nights starting at 6pm: Gym session at the Australian Embassy
Saturday afternoons at 1.45pm: Real footy training with Tommy Sherrin at the UN International School

Saigon –     Saturday afternoons: 2.30 – 4pm at RMIT University

5. Big Day Out recap

On 30 January, the Vietnam Swans ran Auskick Sessions at Auscham’s Big Day Out in Saigon. The Saigon Shooters also ran some netball clinics. It was a great success (see photos below).

On display, we had a certificate of appreciation from the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League thanking the Vietnam Swans and broader community for the money raised last year in support of the victims of the Black Saturday Bushfires. Also, for the first time, we had the Phoenix Perpetual Cup on display. It was donated to the Vietnam Swans by the Captain of the Australian Naval Ship, HMAS DARWIN. This trophy is played for each time an Australian ship visits Vietnam.

6. Making the news

Would you believe that last year, the Swannies appeared in publications such as the Bangkok Post, the Melbourne “Age”, Vietnam News, the Jakarta Globe, the Sydney Swans AFL Website, the Australian Embassy’s website, the Saigon Times and WA Today  – as well as appearing on a Saigon television station’s program? To see the full list and to read their stories, click here.

7. National Sponsors

Thanks very much again to the Vietnam Swans National Sponsors:

  • Linfox – Jumper Sponsor. Transport logistics.
  • Pestfree – Jumper Sponsor. Keep your premises clear of pests.
  • Jim Beam – Jumper Sponsor. JB, just the best bourbon.
  • Jetstar – Jumper Sponsor. Fly me there cheaply!
  • Corsair Marine – Stubby holder sponsor. Performance trimarans and catamarans

Can’t get enough of a Swannies’ footy fix? Not surprised. Log onto www.thevietnamswans.com for more.

Beginning, middle and end of the day, we’re all honkin’ our horns for one reason: we love the footy.

All good!