The Inaugural Vietnam-Australia Friendship Match; Saturday, 7 January, 2012.

National President, Phil Johns, writes about tomorrow’s historic clash between the Vietnam Swans and the Southern Dragons from Australia.

Dear Swannies

In the last 7 days of 2011, the Swannies held three separate events in Melbourne. On Saturday, the 7th Day of 2012, the Swannies will hold our first event for the new year hosting the Inaugural Vietnam-Australia Friendship Match at RMIT University in District 7, Saigon. It starts at 2pm.

Fittingly, as Vietnam’s  Year of the Dragon fast approaches, it will be the Dragons we play and hope to slay. But these are not the Dragons from Hong Kong. These Dragons come from very far away in a Great Southern Land called Australia. More specifically, they come from Melbourne and are known as the Southern Dragons from the Southern District Football League. Last year, their seniors won the flag and their reserves played in the finals.

What makes these Dragons particularly interesting is that they are an Aussie Rules Club of predominantly Asian origin. Approximately half of them are of Vietnamese descent. Having said that, one of their players is Jamie Pi who has a Chinese background. Jamie is playing a major role in the AFL’s push into China, particularly with his commentary of AFL matches. Jamie provided the Chinese commentary at the 2010 Shanghai Showdown between the Brisbane Lions and Melbourne Demons which was played the day after the Asian Champs.

Earlier this year, the Southern Dragons won $30,000 in the Victorian Transport Accident Commission’s “My Blood Oath” campaign (click here for details). At the beginning of last year, the Dragons featured in an AFL video (click here for the You Tube link).

Players from the Southern Dragons have trained with the Swannies in Saigon, as we have with them – and Damo Judd has even run out onto the paddock with them for a match. In July 2010, four of the Southern Dragons joined the Swannies and Vietnam Veterans at the MCG for a formal prematch function with the Sydney Swans (click here for photos).

Speaking of the Sydney Swans, tomorrow, the Sydney Swans’ Fan Development Executive, Mickey Martin will attend and play. This will be the first time we have had a representative of the Sydney Swans Football Club attend one of our events in Vietnam. Bring that on.

Befitting such a special occasion, Ross McRae (Ah, you’ve done it again) has just produced another stunning match day banner – see attached.

Welcome to our new 2012 Signature Sponsor, Pest Free

We are also very pleased to welcome our new 2012 Signature Sponsor, Pest Free Vietnam!

Congratulations to Swannie, Kris Harmston!

Today, Swannie and former Jim Beam Man, Kris Harmston shall marry Jeab in Danang. Congratulations from all the Swannies to you both!

Photos of Swannies’ recent Melbourne events

To see photos of the Swannies’ recent events in Melbourne; the Annual Golf and MCG Cricket Days as well as the Inaugural Celebration Soiree, click onto our On Line Web Album.

Closing couple of thoughts

  • Over the last two days, Michael Clarke was at the SCG seriously tonkin’. Tomorrow, the Swannies and Dragons will be at RMIT seriously honkin’. Honk!
  • Ever wondered why the “G” only refers to the MCG and not the SCG? It’s because the Swannies have our annual cricket day at the MCG. Honk! Honk!