Left, Bill Crang speaks to the players in Saigon after his appointment. Right, Bill is the only Swannie to have played in each of our five ANZAC matches. The time is right for him to step up as Captain (Saigon) and co Captain (National). Congratulations, Billy!

On the weekend, National Coach Andy Glendinning, speaking on behalf of the National Committee, confirmed Bill Crang’s appointment as Saigon Captain elect and National Co Captain elect (with Hanoi’s David Skowronski) after Dukesy returns to Australia in July.

This will be a a great and deserving challenge for Billy. It will be a challenge he shall relish.

It will be an exciting time for the Club as Bill grows into the position and then stamps his own authority and personality, taking us all to the next level.

Bill is amazingly well qualified to become the next Captain. He is, for example, the only Swannie to have played in all five ANZAC Matches (including the 2009 ANZAC Match in Thailand). In the last 12 months in particular, he has really taken on a leadership role at the Club with respect to on field performance and recruitment. Bill also played a key role in the strategic shift of the post ANZAC Friendship Match function, the McMillan Dinner, to the 5 star Imperial Hotel (which stands on the same site as the former Peter Badcoe Club)*.

Bill, as Captain-elect, shall travel to Manila next weekend for the Manila Cup with Dukesy at the helm. The following week, 1 June, shall be Dukesy’s last match when we take on the AFL Masters.

After that, let the reign of King Billy begin! Congratulations again, Bill!

* Footnote

Ron and Ailsa Vernon report from Australia that the “Swannies’ ANZAC Friendship Match and dinner got good coverage on Australia All Over on ABC radio yesterday morning”. We are now trying to get a tape of the program.