Swannies ruckman, Angry, stands alongside another ruckman, the Fish, Paul Salmon

Dave “Angry” Hadley reports on the 4th and final match in the Swannies’ assault on the 2011 Asian Championships in Shanghai.

After waiting three Asian Champs for the first win, you would think that the Vietnam Swans might have switched off after winning their first game against the Barbarians.  There was one game left. The team was tired.  Looking over what the Swannies had left to put on the field, you had Nick with broken ribs, Danny under an injury cloud and Lucas between hospitals getting his eye stitched up. But there was momentum to ride on and Swannies’ spirit still in every player.

The 4th and final game was against Thailand Tigers.  The Thailands beat the Swannies on both occasions last year.  We know how dangerous the Tigers can be.  You could see the glint in everyone’s eyes as we hit the field; the Tigers were about to be hit by 22 red hot Swans.  The centreline jelled from the first bounce, with Matt Nat, Dukes, The Horn and SSSam hitting the ball hard.  Everyone played well, kicks were hitting their targets sweetly and the ball was constantly in the forward line.

Fabbo, standing as tall as a building, speaks with the AFL's Andrew Cadzow

At half time, the Swannies were up by 2 goals.  Slight scare at the start of the second half with a goal to the Tigers getting them close.  That was the last time they were near with All-Asian Nat keeping the Tigers at bay.  There is no need to single anyone else out, everyone played to maximum awesomeness and the Swannies won comfortably.

The Swannies were all so proud, the Club song was song was sung with gusto.  The team then pulled up some chairs to watch the finals, pleased with the knowledge they had won 2 out of 4 games and could hold their Swannies’ necks up high.

Fabbo is still smiling to this very day.