Confirmed. The 2013 Cambodian Cannonball Run to Phnom Penh has been confirmed for Australia Day, 26 January.

Confirmed. The 2013 Cambodian Cannonball Run to Phnom Penh has been confirmed for Australia Day, 26 January. Photo, courtesy Joe Garrison.

On the weekend, Age journalist Jake Niall wrote an interesting article, Cricket – dropped, kicked. Jake was saying that “football remaining in the headlines beyond grand final day is proving detrimental to summer sport”.

He adds, “the Kurt Tippett scandal, the Melbourne tanking investigation, drugs and the challenges facing indigenous football have all been unwelcome dramas for the AFL since the season ended. Collectively, these eruptions of controversy have made 2012 the longest ‘season’ on record.

An interesting article but overlooks another key factor: the never ending stream of big stories coming out of Vietnam: for example,  the Swannies three peat performance at the Indochina Cup, the induction of three Swannies into our new Hall of Fame, Dukesy’s three peat for the Club’s Best & Fairest, Rocket’s controversial match report on the Reds win in Saigon’s local derby Grand Final, Christmas parties, key departures etc.

Now, the Club can confirm details of events for the opening months of 2013, the Club’s 10th Anniversary:

  • 23 January, Saigon – KOTO Restaurant, National Sponsors’ Dinner
  • 26 January, Phnom Penh – The Cambodian Cannonball Run. Cambodian Eagles Vs Vietnam Swans. The Eagles report that as the match will be played oin Australia Day, they would like to make “a massive event of it and the Australian Business Association of Cambodia want to get behind the event”.
  • 2-3 March, Vung Tau – 2nd Annual ANZAC Boot Camp
  • 16 March, Saigon – Gaelic Championship (tbc)
  • 23 March, Danang – The 3rd Annual Swing to Swim Charity Golf Day, Montgomerie Links
  • 30 March, Kuala Lumpur – Malaysian Warriors Vs Vietnam Swans
  • 27 April, Vung Tau – The 4th ANZAC Friendship Match: Vietnam Swans Vs Jakarta Bintangs. Early discussions suggest that several high profile AFL personalities shall be in attendance at the event. Official historian of the Vietnam Football League during the war years, Stand Middleton, has already confirmed his attendance.

Meanwhile, annual golf, cricket and Celebration Soirees are still to be held in Melbourne this year: 28 and 29 December specifically. Confirm your attendance now. Friends and family welcome.