National President, Phil “Fabbo” Johns, provides us all with an update of what’s happening at the Club.

Dear Swannies, Sponsors and Supporters

  • Victory in Cambodian Cup. Return tour on 4 September
  • Rick Trewavas says he’s a “very happy” Swannie
  • 2011 ANZAC Friendship Match – Hong Kong Dragons confirm
  • Auskick resumes in Saigon
  • Count Down to the Big Ones: AFL Grand Final and Asian Champs
  • Can’t get enough?
  • Closing thought

Victory in Cambodian Cup. Return tour on 4 September

BOG Brett Jota at last week's Cambodian Cup

Congratulations to the 35 players and spectators who made the Cambodian Cannon Ball Run to Phnom Penh for the birth of the Cambodian Cobras footy club last weekend. It was a tough match and Vietnam did well to beat a very determined opposition by 84 points.

Congratulations to Brett Jota who was voted Best on Ground and won the Rick Trewavas Medal.

The Cambodian Cobras expect to travel to Saigon on 4 September for a return friendly and then again on 27 November for the regional blockbuster, the Indochina Cup.

Yesterday, Cambodian Cobra’s President, Murray Heath emailed all Asian Presidents to say:

I think it is now safe to announce the official birth of the Cambodian Cobras as a legitimate part of the Aussie Rules scene in this part of the world. A big thank you goes to the Vietnam Swans for helping us get this game off the ground.

The Vietnam Swans are very pleased to welcome the Cambodian Cobras to Asian footy and look forward to hosting them here in Vietnam!

To see photos of the weekend, click onto the Vietnam Swans Photo Album.

Rick Trewavas says he’s a “very happy” Swannie

As mentioned above, the Rick Trewavas Medal was awarded last weekend to the BOG, Brett Jota. The Club has only just learned that Rick Trewavas has an “aggressive lung cancer”. So, as a tribute to the man who helped establish this Club – and played a role in the development of footy in Indonesia – it was decided to name the BOG medal after him.

Upon learning of the Medal named in his honour last week, Rick wrote to the Vietnam Swans:

I teared up. This means a lot to me particularly in the context of mens’ cancer round in the AFL last week…The more I think on this, the more it becomes a wonderful gesture on the Vietnam Swans part. I shall honk my horn for the Vietnam and Sydney Swans this weekend. You have made a Swannie very happy.

Everyone at the Swannies wishes Rick all the very best and we are thinking of him on and off the track.

2011 ANZAC Friendship Match – Hong Kong Dragons confirm

The Home Page of the Hong Kong Dragons' website

The Vietnam Swans are delighted to announce that the Hong Kong Dragons have accepted our invitation to play in the 2011 ANZAC Friendship Match in Vung Tau. Within 30 minutes of the invitation being sent to the Dragons, we had received a reply from them confirming that the Dragons are “very keen to lock this in”.

The Dragons’ homepage now leads with a story providing full details of the ANZAC Friendship Match.

Two days ago, I received an email from Dick Johnson, a veteran, who is friends with a number of guys who played in the VFL’s (Vietnam Football League’s) 1968 Grand Finals. Dick, now living in Perth, will be in Saigon at the end of September. He will be back again in 2011 for ANZAC Day and the Vietnam Swans ANZAC Friendship Match.

Last week, courtesy of VFL Legend, Stan Middleton, I received an article about the Vung Tau match that appeared in the winter edition of the Vietnam Veterans’ Debrief magazine. Click here to find the link to The Vietnam Swans Inaugural ANZAC Friendship Match 2010. (2010, Article No. 7.)

The ANZAC Friendship Match to be held on 23 April 2011 will be a good one.

Auskick resumes in Saigon

The flyer for Auskick in Saigon which recommences on Sunday 8 August 2010

The Vietnam Swans will resume Auskick sessions in Saigon, commencing at 8am on Sunday morning, 8 August (see attached poster for full details or contact Matt Natalotto.

Thank you again to the AFL and Josh Vanderloo for forwarding many Auskick packs to the Vietnam Swans. Their support is much appreciated.

Count Down to the Big Ones: AFL Grand Final and Asian Champs

  • Seven (7) weeks (25 September) before the Official Vietnam Swans AFL Grand Final Parties in Hanoi and Saigon
  • Ten (10) weeks (16 October) before the Asian Championships, Shanghai, China

Can’t get enough?

Can’t get enough of the Vietnam Swans? We either. Try www.thevietnamswans.com and/or Facebook.

Closing thought

Coach Josh reminds us that, in addition to the Heritage Round ANZAC Match, the Swannies have played four international matches this year – and won three.

Clearly, if you’re not honkin’, you’re dreamin’.