Alex Jesaulenko at the announcement.

The Vietnam Swans would like to congratulate Alex Jesaulenko who has just been named as the Captain of the AFL’s first Multicultural Team of Champions.

It is a team that comprises the AFL/VFL’s best 22 multicultural players since 1896.

A selection panel including AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou, Carlton coach Mick Malthouse and TV commentator Dennis Cometti picked its best 22 players with international ties to have played the game from 1896-2013.

The AFL’s website reports that the team, announced yesterday as part of Multicultural Round, “possesses sublime skills, dash and daring, with a defence as balanced as any ever assembled, a hard-edged, attacking midfield and a forward line loaded with scoring power.

“To be eligible, players must have either been born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas.

“Ukrainian-born Carlton legend Alex Jesaulenko was named as captain while Jock McHale was named as coach.”

And just why is Alex Jesaulenko important to the Vietnam Swans?

Jezza has been a great supporter of the Vietnam Swans, In 2011, he signed a number of items for our Grand Final Party including a Vietnam Swans jumper that now hangs on the wall of the Boomarang Bar and Bistro in Saigon. The Boomarang, home of the Swannies’ 2013 AFL Grand Final Party in Saigon, also just happens to be run by Jezza’s nephew, Adam Zakharoff.

Alex has also written articles for the footy record of our ANZAC Friendship Match.

In July of last year, Alex’s irrepressible and charismatic late wife, Annie, signed up as a sponsor of the Vietnam Swans with her company, Xango Juice.

Again, from all the Vietnam Swans, we wish Alex a very big congratulations on his latest, remarkable achievement.

Read the AFL’s original article: Jezza leads multicultural Team of Champions, AFL Website, 9 July, 2013.