Swans’ President, Phil Johns, addresses the crew of HMAS Sydney, the Swannies and spectators after last Wednesday’s Phoenix Cup.

Prior to the presentations following last Wednesday’s Phoenix Cup match between the Vietnam Swans and HMAS Sydney in Saigon, Vietnam Swans’ National President, Phil Johns welcomed and thanked the crew of Sydney.

Below is an edited extract of his speech.

The Vietnam Swans and the Royal Australian Navy played our first ever match back in August 2008. At the time, Brent “Irvo” Irving from teh visiting ship described the event as “a momentous occasion for an Australian warship to be invited to play an Aussie Rules match in Vietnam”.

What made the occasion particularly momentous for the Swannies was that the frigate was named, HMAS ANZAC. Just three months earlier, the Swannies had accepted an invitation to play the Thailand Tigers in their ANZAC Match the following year at Kanchanaburi, just near Hellfire Pass. There we played, in front of three ex POWs. The next year, 2010, the Swannies played our inaugural ANZAC Friendship Match in Vung Tau. Four days after that special match, Stan Middleton contacted the Vietnam Swans to let us know that a thriving Vietnam Football League competition had been played during the War from 1966-71 in Vung Tau – on the very same oval that we had played on: the Vung Tau Greyhound Racing Track, formerly known as the Lord Mayor’s Oval.

Irvo, front centre, on board HMAS ANZAC in 2008. Other big guns include Damo Judd and now Saigon Prez, Nick Shiells. The young man holding the footy is then President Scotty Stacey’s son. Scott flies back into Saigon on Monday for a week.

The ANZAC Friendship Match has since become our Club’s signature event of the year and attracts a growing number of Vietnam Veterans each year.

In 2009, HMAS DARWIN visited Saigon and another match was scheduled. The main contact person was Arron “Catta” Convery and he believed that the footy match between the RAN Fleet Units and the Swannies needed to become a tradition. It therefore needed a trophy. The DARWIN then donated a spent 76mm shell to be used as the trophy. And it would be called, The Phoenix Cup Perpetual Trophy. Why Phoenix? The Phoenix is on the DARWIN’s Coat of Arms – and that will upset the crew of HMAS ANZAC! Momentous.

The next RAN ships to visit were HUON and YARRA in a combined visit in October 2011. In January 2011, the HUON was one of three RAN ships that were used to clear the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay of debris following the devastating Queensland Floods. At the time of the floods, the Vietnam Swans, together with other key groups in Vietnam, raised more than $45,000 to support the victims of the Queensland floods.

And now, this evening, we have just played a match against HMAS Sydney IV. Again, there are stories.

In 1941, Sydney’s predecessor, HMAS Sydney II was sunk off the West Australian coast taking the lives of every one of the ship’s company of 645. Since 2010, the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles have played an annual commemorative football match for Sydney II.

During the Vietnam War, from 1965-1972, HMAS Sydney III made 25 trips to Vietnam earning it the nickname of the Vung Tau Ferry. And Vung Tau, of course, is the place where we play our ANZAC Friendship Match.

Catta, from HMAS Darwin, presents the 76mm shell to Swans President, Phil Johns, back in October 2009. The shell is now known as the Phoenix Cup Perpetual Trophy.

Separately, the Vietnam Swans have proposed to the AFL that it consider hosting a Twilight Blockbuster for all veterans on Vietnam Veterans’ Day, Sunday, 18 August, next year. Next year is significant because it is the 40^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam. The signature moment of the event would be a live telecast of the minute’s silence at the Long Tan Cross back to the scoreboard of the stadium in Australia.

Importantly, the match would be dedicated to all veterans, not just Vietnam Veterans. So, the match would also recognise the crew of HMAS Sydney IV which has made five trips to the Persian Gulf during some fairly hairy times as well as Bouganville and Fiji.

AFL Chairman, Mike Fitzpatrick has said that it is an “interesting proposal” and that the AFL is “seriously looking at it”. Vietnam Veteran and AFL Hall of Famer, Graham Cornes, has described the proposal as a “great idea” – as has the President of the Long Tan Veterans’ Association, John Heslewood.

Today the AFL announced its draw for season 2013. Interestingly, the Sydney Swans have been drawn to play St Kilda at the SCG on Sunday 18 August. Could this be the game that is turned into a Vietnam Veterans’ Day Twilight Blockbuster dedicated to all veterans?

If it is, with the benefit of hindsight, today, the day that HMAS Sydney and the Vietnam Swans played a footy match in Saigon, will seem even more momentous.

The Vietnam Swans are very pleased to welcome HMAS Sydney IV. Irrespective of what the AFL may or may not do, the growing tradition of footy between the RAN Fleet Units and the Vietnam Swans is becoming ever richer.

Imagine where the Phoenix Cup Perpetual Trophy will be in another five years. And 10 years…

Momentous.