Taber Talk’s Daryl Taber completes his two part assessment of the Tri Nations Tournament held last week in Hanoi. This is the last time that Daryl will be able to write a “Taber Talk” tabloid piece as an active Swans player. Next month he will pack up and leave Vietnam to return to Australia where he expects to open a shop that specialises in selling Vietnam Swans memorabilia.

The mighty Rooster was there of course. He was cock-a-hoop strutting the boundary line in anticipation of donning his 18th international Aussie Rules Guernsey in the Elephant’s second match against the Tigers. Or was it because his new lovely fiancé Rina was perched close by? All this off-field action, combined with the buzz that Fish was finally was on his way to the ground, may have distracted the Laos boys.

Despite starting the match two players short, Thailand booted a swag of goals in record time. The Elephants were never in this hunt.

The final match between the Swans and the Tigers started the same way. Thailand rushed the footy out of the middle and piled on goal after goal. Thirteen for the match blew the Swans right out of the water. If Rina’s feathers were preened, the Swans were well and truly ruffled as the likes of Rhino and Mango ran riot. Divine intervention, Jesus, in the centre allowed the Tigers to win most clearances. Some wiser, experienced Tigers were also in everything and it became a rout. Grigg, Leaver, Lucardie and new recruit Aidyn did well for the Swans.

It was great to host the netballers for the weekend as well. Laos won the 5 side tournament but the event was the winner.

We’d like to thank the staff at j-a-f-a, JASPAS (especially Jimmy!!), the Green Mango, Tiger Beer, SOS and the Family Medical Practice and of course all the staff at UNIS for setting up the match venue. Their generous support made it a sensational weekend.

It was a weekend of milestones; the international debut of the Lao Elephants, the first combined footy/netball tri nations tournament in Vietnam, Rooster’s appearance in his 18th international guernsey, Fish’s final appearance as Tigers Coach and it was also the final hit out for former Swans’ President, Daryl Taber.