The countdown is on with only 4 weeks until the 17th AFL Asian Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, hosted by the Vietnam Swans. Lots of exciting developments coming out of Vietnam, all pointing towards a massive weekend for footy in Asia!
Latest:
- – Confirmation that AFL legend Andrew Embley will travel to Vietnam for Champs and then on to Cambodia
- – Confirmation from the AFL that AFL Victoria Umpiring Development Manager Rod Threlfall will attend Champs to assist with umpire training and accreditation
- – Confirmation that the first ever women’s game to be played at Champs
- – Confirmation of live streaming for All-Asia Cup and Asian Champs
- – Official Asian Champs draw live from Bangkok on AFL Asia Facebook Live this Saturday night
- – Announcement of an AFL Sportsman lunch (Friday 14th) and Golf Day (Monday 17th)
- – Aussie DJ Soup booked to play Champs after party
- – Release of official Champs poster and sponsors thanks to X.Digital
Embers – In!
AFL Asia are delighted to welcome back to Asia West Coast Eagle Premiership player and 2006 Norm Smith Medalist Andrew Embley.
Embley will conduct an open training session for the region’s local players from 10.30am on Friday 14th October at RMIT Saigon Campus, before coaching the combined IndoChina team in the three-team All-Asia Cup at 2pm. This exciting new development for footy in Asia will feature the best local talent from AFL Asia’s local development hotspots of China, Indonesia and Indo-China. This will be the first time the all-local AFL International Cup teams have competed against each other in Asia.
Embley coaching the East Asia vs SE Asia locals game at the 2015 Asian Champs (Photo: Ardmawr Photography)
Embley will also be AFL Asia’s special “On the Couch” guest at a sportsman lunch Friday at RMIT’s Sorrento Cafe overlooking RMIT’s two fields, with participants welcome to stay on to watch the All-Asia Cup from the air-conditioned comfort of the Sorrento bar. A golf day with Embers on Monday 17th is also being planned to help raise money for AFL Asia’s local player development initiatives, details on the lunch and golf day to follow shortly.
On Thursday 22nd October Embley will travel to Phnom Penh to conduct a training session with the Cambodian Eagles exciting young local talent and a sportsman’s dinner on Friday night. Follow the Cambodian Eagles facebook page for futher details.
Embley has a strong connection to Asia, being of Anglo/Burmese ancestry with both his Grandparents and Father being born in Burma (Myanmar) before migrating to Perth in 1964. This will be his third AFL Asia engagement, having coached the inaugural match of the IndoChina team at the 2014 IndoChina Cup and leading local player development initiatives at the 2015 Asian Champs. If fundraising targets can be achieved, Embley has indicated his interest in coaching the IndoChina team at the 2017 AFL International Cup.
AFL – In!
Great news for Umpiring in Asia with AFL Victoria Umpiring Development Manager Rod Threlfall will attend Champs, courtesy of the AFL. Rod will be providing support for AFL Asia training and accreditation efforts, in an attempt to improve the skills of umpires from all All AFL Asia clubs around Asia.
Limited spots are currently available for aspiring umpires around the region wishing to attain their Lv 1 accreditation at Champs, please contact your local AFL Asia Club if you or someone you know would like to take advantage of this great opportunity to access official AFL umpire education and coaching. AFL Asia are accepting nominations from all member clubs now.
Women’s game – On!
The 2016 Champs is breaking new ground by hosting the first ever AFL women’s match, held at the conclusion of the preliminary matches on the Saturday. The Asian Champs schedule can be found on the Asian Champs page at AFL-Asia.com. Plenty of players from the Ladies Saigon Gaels and Viet Celt Ladies will be taking part alongside players from other countries around Asia. Contact nationalpres@vietnamswans.com if you or someone you know might like to participate in this historic women’s game.
Live Streaming – On!
Lovers of Asian footy all over the globe will be able to keep up with all the action from this years Champs with news the All-Asian Cup and Asian Champs will be filmed, recorded and streamed live for the first time! Stay tuned for the Champs promo trailer.
Official Draw – Live from Bangkok this Saturday!
AFL Asia legends Rut and Billy will run into each other again this Saturday night on the AFL Asia footy panel
After the huge ratings success of the 2015 Champs draw streamed live on AFL Asia TV, we are pleased to welcome back the AFL Asia footy panel to help conduct and disect the Asian Champs Draw this Saturday night, to be streamed live from downtown Bangkok via AFL Asia Facebook page at half time of the Sydney v Adelaide game.
This years footy panel will feature the Sam Newman of Asian Footy, Vietnam Swans Captain Billy Crang, Fitzy from the Cambodian Eagles and the biggest Bulldogs fan in Asia if not the world, local Thai legend Rut Ngarmariyakul, who will analyse the Division 1 and 2 Draw as it unfolds once the chewy containers are pulled from the ice bucket.
DJ Soup – Booked!
The Swannies love to party and legendary Sydney-based Hip hop/Funk/Soul DJ and producer ‘DJ Soup’ will ensure a carnival like atmosphere is maintained throughout the day and into the evening with a set following the presentations. Players and supporters are encouraged to stay on for a post-game beverage, with refreshments and catering remaining available at the ground until 8pm.
Soup is one of the pioneers of the Sydney hip hop scene through his groundbreaking 1993 release “The Hills Are Alive with the Sound Of…” with the Fonke Knomaads, before launching a solo career spanning 3 more EP’s (Soup and Avene, Eclectro, UberSoup) and 3 albums (Souperloops, Anuva Planet and Beatroot), as well as producing for many and varied hip hop artists and also other genres.
Soup will also headline the Quest Festival near Hanoi on 5 November and play at Cama ATK in Hanoi on 21 October.
Sponsors – On board!
AFL Asia greatly appreciates the support received from companies and organisations to help ensure the growth of Asian Champs, with a number of sponsors having already taken up a range of sponsorship opportunities.
These include:
- – Heavy Equipment Maintenance company Mader to sponsor the “Mader Medal for Player of the Tournament” (Div 1, 2, All-Asia Cup and Women’s Game)
- – Saigon based design, development and digital marketing firm X.Digital, through provision of design services
- – Australian Government support for local player development initiatives
- – Swannies sponsors Commbank and Vietnam Backpackers donating items for a showbag to be distributed to all participants
- – Official travel partner Wide Eyed Tours
Get on board for the Biggest Asian Champs Ever (media release)!
See the schedule, prospectus and more at the AFL Asia website.
