Phil Jordan’s first Asian International was as a Lao Elephant (see far right) when the club debuted at the 1st Indochina Cup (known as the Tri Nations Cup) in Hanoi 2007. Note Swannie Scotty Stacey in the background, Gus (no. 6) and Micky J (helmet).

Phil Jordan started with the Lao Elephants – at the ‘Phants’ international debut in 2007. That was the inaugural Indochina Cup held in Hanoi. Last weekend, after playing in the 2012 Indochina Cup in Hanoi for the Vietnam Swans, Phil hung up his boots.

Phil has now moved back to Melbourne to open Golf Life Tours, a company that will bring golf tours to Vietnam.

Below, Phil, a rugby man, talks about the role that footy has played while living and working in Indochina.

I originally moved to Vietnam to live in early 2005, working as a tour guide and, being constantly in and out of the country, I unfortunately did not get to spend any time with the Swannies in this two year tenure but did make some great friends where the AFL seed was planted.

In 2007, I took a job in Laos. I knew little about the country and after a few months there was questioning the decision. By chance, one night I ran into an old friend in the jazzy Brick Bar; one Marty Sharples. We had met in Vietnam many times on the road when our groups overlapped. He informed me that he and a handful of others (David Kemp, Michael “Hollywood” Hassest to name a few) were starting a football club called the Lao Elephants. Having been pretty bored for the past months, this excited me greatly – until he clarified it would be AFL and not Rugby League. This immediately depressed me again.

The months had been rough so I decided to head down to the local park (aptly named the sandpit, due to fact the field was surrounded by grass but contained none) and have a kick with the boys. From there I was hooked, not so much on the sport itself (that would come with time), but more so the calibre of the blokes playing the game, the work which would be done for charities and the community etc. I can honestly say I made some great friends and if it wasn’t for the ‘Phants and their distinctive pink get-up, I probably wouldn’t have lasted Laos. Instead, I ended up loving the three years I spent there and made some friends I know will be kept for life.

Phil Jordan finishes off his Asian footy career in Swannies’ colours. Controversially, wearing an out of date jumper and non Swannies’ shorts! At least he was giving plenty of exposure to the Swannies’ Signature Sponsor, Pest Free.

After a brief sabbatical in Europe, I was offered a job in Vietnam and returned to where it all began. From my time in Laos at the various footballing events I had gotten to know many of the Vietnam players. They were a class act, both on and off the field, and I knew that I would definitely drag my hungover self down to RMIT (Saigon) on the first Saturday I was in town. I immediately felt welcome into the Swannies flock.

What the Club does is amazing in terms of charity work, community support and essentially just being there for each other and playing some great footy along the way. In many respects I am sure the Swannies are the benchmark for other clubs as to how things should operate. There are always key individuals which keep clubs on track, and they can suffer if they leave. At the Swans there is too many to name but Phil “Fabbo” Johns is one of those characters who does so much for the club and the community it’s just impossible to know where to start the praise.

I’d like to thank all the Swans and everyones I’ve been involved with in Footy. If someone told me seven years ago I’d be playing AFL in Asia – and loving it – I would have told them to go get their head read. Now I can’t imagine it any other way.

I’ll start a new chapter now bringing golf tours to Vietnam and I will try and tie them in with Swannies’ functions as much as humanly possible, beginning with next ANZAC Friendship Weekend.

You’re all Legends; stay tuned and keep honkin!

Footnote: At the Swannies’ 2012 AFL Grand Final Party in Saigon, Phil Jordan’s Golf Life Tours donated a restored and repainted Swannies motorbike that was auctioned for charity. The auction raised $3,100 and the proceeds were donated to Swim Vietnam.