NOTE – AS OF 8:30pm ON FRIDAY 21/5/2021 ALL SPORTING FIELDS ARE CLOSED. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE AND WE’RE ALL SO THANKFUL FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS TO KEEP US ALL SAFE. STAY TUNED TO SPORTEASY AND FACEBOOK FOR NEWS ON NEXT SAFL GAMES AND TRAININGS IN THE SOUTH (LIKEWISE IN THE NORTH).
STAY SAFE SWANNIES!!!
Despite the ongoing Covid pressure Saigon’s hottest sporting league is headed towards round 2 and following an epic Round 1 clash the whole town is honking in anticipation. This weeks the Thu Thiem Tigers and Ben Thanh Bears join forces to take on the Cho Lon Crocs and the Vung Tau Vipers. For the record the Vipers are yet to taste defeat in either the VFL on ANZAC Weekend or in the SAFL. Will their streak continue or can the Tigers and Bears blunt their fangs?
The Details
We’re back at Hoa Lu, Saturday 22nd May from 10am. Be there at 9:30 to prepare. Bring your Halida cards for after game drinks and performance evaluations and exaggerations. All welcome bring some friends if anyone is interested. Round 1 was both a cracking game but a fantastic vibe that suited all levels across the field. The more we get on the track the better these games get!
Scales vs Fur
Ths is the battle of the reptiles and the mammals with the Vipers and Crocs appearing to be best off if the wet season conditions set in early on Saturday. The land lubbing Bears and Tigers seemingly will do better on a faster track!
Kicking Boots
Accuracy was a decisive factor in round 1 with the Tigers/Crocs blowing significant chances early in the game leaving too much to do in the later stages. Key offenders were Tigers Wayne McMahon and Billy Crang and the Crocs Sean Milner. Will have their kicking boots calibrated for Round 2? With the schedule moving around the team combinations it’ll be fascinating to see who can make it count on the scoreboard.
The Tigers skipper Wayne McMahon had plenty of chances to change the course of Round 1, can he make those chances stick and change the Tigers luck in Round 2?
Debutants
After the Vipers debutant Nic Hurlston’s game winning 8 goal haul in Round 1 he’ll get plenty of attention from the Bears and Tigers whenever he’s near the ball. Perhaps it’ll be the next wave of debutants gracing the SAFL who make the difference in round 2! Rob Savy is a natural footy player and will bolster the Crocs ranks this weekend whilst his colleague Wayne Hagen will run out for the Bears. In his first session he showed solid came sense picking up the spacing and skills at lightning page. Dave “Cherry” Tran is yet to be assigned a team by Commissioner Barton but he’ll also be one to watch in his first game.
Vinh “Diesel’s” Vendettas
Little Vinh Diesel’s early season form has been a talking point in itself. Vinh’s taken to putting his massive calves to work running straight lines at the footy and winning contested balls at will. This weekend he seems poised to be running some straight lines through a few of the Crocs/Vipers stars after some big hits in the last few outings. This tackle has done the rounds of the chat groups and will surely be firmly etched in Diesel’s mind come Round 2 AND those same chat groups saw Vinh personally calling out the Viper’s new recruit Nic for some closer attention in Round 2. Vinh has been 1 to watch all season but this Saturday will be even more so!
The Bears Big Guns
The Bears were crippled in Round 1 missing ANZAC Friendship Match stars Jono “Pittsy” Mackay and Ryan”0″ Tishler and their male leaders with Timmy P taking on umpiring duties and Coach Tommy back in Aus. This all bar Tommy hit the field adding a serious level of quality to the Bears/Tigers combo. With Tigers captain Wayne McMahon heard to say at training that the tigers were forced to carry the Crocs last week the Bears Big Boys should be a welcome addition to furry fellas.
Ryan”o” Tishler was as hard as nails all ANZAC Friendship Day and will be a welcome return for the Bears in Round 2 of the SAFL!
The Benches (Great Numbers!)
Squads are looking solid, SportEasy is pointing towards about 14-15 per squad so all of a sudden with 3 players on benches some freshening of legs will be key to running out the 4 quarters in the debilitating heat. Which set of leaders will use it best?
If you’re somehow still not on SportEasy get on to stay up to date – https://www.sporteasy.net/en/join/ZCAPBA3/
The Birthday Brothers
The Bagel Bros never miss out on being a talking point for the Swans and this week is no difference with them both celebrating birthdays in the last week AND the freak occurance of them teaming up in a domestic game!!! Normally they’re the first players placed on opposite teams with the boys back yard style battles still as fierce as ever always a crowd favorite! After plenty of Cheesecake Ngon they’ll be a handful for the Bears/Tigers all day!
Naomi Ni Riada has also celebrated a birthday between Round 1 and 2 and will be united with her Swans leadership sister Chia Sabbatucci on the same team this weekend. Will the Birthday celebrations continue through Saturday?
The back yard battles will go on hold for a day as the Birthday/Bagel/Cheesecake Bros team up alongside the Lady Swans Leadership Sisters on Saturday.
