Dave O’Shea slices through the hyperbole, rumour and comments from the peanut gallery to deliver an insightful and revealing preview about tomorrow’s international blockbuster in Saigon.

Supercoach extraordinaire, Dave O’Shea delivers the much anticipated match preview for tomorrow’s three way blockbuster: Hanoi Red Swans Vs Cambodian Eagles Vs Saigon White Swans. With his last match preview, he wondered out loud whether it was his best yet (and 80 per cent of those who voted agreed with him. Click here). But Dave may have gone one better with this preview. Read on and decide for yourself.

The Event

Ladies and Gentleman, the big day has nearly arrived. Tomorrow will see a Round Robin tournament between three forces in Asian Football. Hanoi Red Swans, Saigon White Swans and Cambodian Eagles. Welcome to the Eagles who have been battling out the Cambodia Vietnam Cannonball run. A mega bus trip that takes approximately 6 hours with a stopover at the Casinos at the border of Cambodia and Vietnam. Apart from all the casinos, this is also the place where the department of immigration is. Hopefully, for the Eagles, there won’t be any problems with getting visas for Vietnam and they will all make it into the country successfully.

Rules and Regulations

The matches will be 2 * 15 minute halves. The matches will be 14 a side. Let’s hope all teams get that one right this time and we don’t have to start the match again at 3/4 time like earlier in the year when Vietnam and Cambodia met.

Draw

  • Game 1. 1:20 – 2:00pm. Hanoi Red Swans Vs Cambodian Eagles
  • Game 2. 2:10 – 2:50. Saigon White Swans Vs Cambodian Eagles
  • Game 3. 3:00 – 3:40. Saigon White Swans Vs Hanoi Red Swans

The Teams

A devastated Heater. Not even another roll of sticky tape can bring him back from holidays for tomorrow’s match.

Due to the large number of Vietnam players available for the match, we decided to split the Vietnam team into two teams. One team will be led by the Hanoi President Daniel Hopkins and myself as Saigon’s Acting Captain. The other will be led by the Saigon President Sam Conroy and Hanoi Coach, Ado Enright. The rest of the Vietnam players were put into two even teams based on player ability and position. The reason for this is that we wanted every player to have enough game time. It is also a good chance to prepare for the Asian Champs which will also be short “stop-start” games. The teams are posted below.

Supercoach

Bargain Basement

We have some players playing their first game for Vietnam and are at a bargain basement price for those super coachers out there.

Steve Conlan, currently on holidays in Vietnam with his girlfriend, has been super impressive at Swannies training sessions. Steve is a tall ruckman who has some great skills. Look for a big game from this giant.

Daniel and Lui are two Vietnamese natives who have been introduced to the Swannies by Nathan and Sean Milner. Both players have some great foot skills and are learning the game nicely. Could be great improvers and possible keepers for your supercoach team.

On the Bubble

We also have some players that have played a couple of games for the Swannies and their prices are about to skyrocket. Now is the time to get these guys into your team if you haven’t already done so.

Luke Miller has been very impressive in the couple of games that he has played in the Saigon scratch matches. He is a tall ruckman who gets many hit outs and takes some good grabs. Now is the time to get Luke into your team before his price goes up.

James Symons has come from a Rugby background and is a strong runner with the ball. Has been impressive in a couple of Saigon scratchies. If he can keep his body injury free, could be a great pick up.

Brian Farrell is an Irish convert who has been loving the Swannies. He has been tearing it up at training and also in the Saigon scratch matches. If you are looking for a ball running defender for your team, look no further than Irish Brian.

John Redmond also an Irish convert is a player who can win the hard ball and go forward and kick goals. After tearing up a couple of scratchies in Saigon, his price is about to go BOOM. Get him now if you can.

Kurt Walker and John MacFarlane are also two players that have come along way since their first game. Look for a big game from these two players.

Premiums

A number of the Vietnam Premium Players are out of action this weekend. Luke Creamer, Nat Payne, Ryan Evo, Heater Shaw, Kev HornBlower, Phil Ghasseb. If you have any of these players in your team, you might want to look to trade. Possible options are below.

Look no further than Ado Enright. When he is not being a model, he is playing footy for the Swannies. He should rack up a huge amount of disposals and will give great delivery to the forwards all day.

Crazy Dan is a marking machine in the backline. Will rack up huge points with his marking and kicking. Also can fill in as a ruckman so can get points for his hitouts. A must for your backline!

Billy Crang is a DPP (Duel Position Player) can kick goals, play in the ruck and also defend. If he is used as a defensive shut down role he may not pick up huge Super Coach points. However, he must be considered for your team with his DPP status.

Dave SOS is a talented player who can take screamers. He is a smart player who is bound to kick goals. A must for your forward line.

Nick Shiells, another forward gun who is making his comeback match after being in Australia for a few weeks. If fit, will carve up.

If you are looking for a premium ruck man, look no further than Edo. This guy is a previous basketballer from Italy. Should get plenty of hit outs in the ruck.

Trav Fallon is a very accurate kick and a great defender. He always get the job done and could rack up huge points for your team.

Phil Jordan is another DPP. Like Billy, he can play anywhere on the field. He could be the x factor for the Hanoi Reds tomorrow.

Nathan Milner has been carving up matches in the Saigon scratchies. A very skillful and fast player. This guy will rack up huge supercoach points.

Other Premiums you can look at bringing in are Damo Judd, Sam Conroy, Brett Jotta and Mark Stennet.

General Soreness

Tomorrow will be the farewell games for Coach Scotty Turner and player, Stewie Davies. Thanks guys.

With the Asian Champs just around the corner, some of the players are being rested with “general soreness”.

Shagga Leahy is one of these players who is being rested. Shagga claims it is general soreness. Look to trade Shannon if you have trades left, also it looks as if he will be out of the Asian Champs.

Nick Breheny looks like he will be a late withdrawal. He has been sick all week after a huge Binh Duong weekend. What’s he Binh Duong? For those that have Nick in their teams, look to hold him as he will no doubt be back playing great footy for the Swannies.

Another genuine injured player is Sean Milner. During the week Sean had a fitness test with his physio and was unable to get the all clear to play.

Hanoi Red Swans. Backs: cDan (c), Billy Crang, Phil Jordan, Harry Hodge, Matt Townsend. Mid: Dave O’Shea, Nathan Milner, John Shoulder, John Redmond, Mark Stennett. Ruck Luke Miller. Forward, Nick Shiells, Daniel (Vietnamese), Matt Natalotto, Paul Koch, Matt Carr, Kyle Hackenberg.

Saigon White Swans. Backs, Damo Judd, Trav Fallon, Sam Conroy (c), Rowan, Kurt Walker. Mid: Ado Enright, Brett Jotta, Qui Li, Brian Farrell,  James Symons, Nick Breheny (??). Ruck, Steve Conlan, Edo. Forward, Dave Skowronski, Lui (Vietnamese) Stewie Davies, Richard Quinn, Luca, John McFarlane. Coach, Scott Turner.

Cambodia. Gavin Murphy, Grant Fitzgerald, Julien Brewster, Sy Um, Sam Henty, Al Soutaris, David Murphy, Az Watson, Dave Tomlins, Troy Bogaart, Matt Rees, Nick de Tarczynski, Jamie Griffin, Steve Morrish, Dave Gordge, Matt Corbin, Jhie Gough, Simon Jenkin.

Photos: Photos used in this article are courtesy of Mark Stennett Photography.