By Chris McAsey

Disclaimer: Last weekend’s Asian Championship in Chon Buri was my first, so I don’t have any benchmarks. But wow!

The evening before at Siam Country Club for Sundowners, I’d chatted to some clearly exhausted volunteers who had spent the day setting up.

Arriving at Thai Polo Escape early the next morning, I understood why.

It was an incredible effort to co-ordinate setting up a brand new venue – marking out three full-sized grounds, putting up goal posts, setting up 22 team bunkers, shade and operations areas and co-ordinating film crew, food vendors, medical staff and sanitation.

The dedicated medical team.

I’m sure I’ve missed plenty of tasks – and that was all before the day’s match operations effort got underway!

Of course there were setbacks in the lead up – not least having to switch to a new venue weeks out from the Champs. Border closures between Thailand and Cambodia. Typhoon Kajiki rolling through a few days earlier. And a Cambodian team who barely made it after an eight-hour flight delay.

So it was only fitting that game day dawned with blue skies and dew on the grass – taking some of us back to Saturday mornings in the under 9s.

The new Thai Polo Escape venue is superb. Three even and well grassed ovals. A lounge area overlooking the grounds for those needing some R & R. A range of high quality food and drink vendors with smiling and helpful staff.

And the backdrop – with lush forest and rolling hills in the distance – was simply stunning.

There was a palpable air of excitement as the first matches drew close. After a strong latte I’d be happy with at any inner city Melbourne cafe, I joined the throng heading down onto this Field of Dreams.

Teams were warming up on the fresh decks, full of smiles. Film crews clambered up their scaffolding. Medical crews took up their positions.

As the sun started to climb, so did the temperature. Sweat production went into overdrive, and I was just strolling around!

The hooter blew for the first matches of the day. Umpires threw the ball in the air. We were away!

Parts of the long day are a blur now, as I moved around the grounds trying to watch as many games as possible. But here’s a short list of my highlights:

  • Hong Kong’s quiet rebirth – who knew what was being hatched by the Dragons?
  • Indonesia’s effort to co-ordinate and travel with three teams, many of them young nationals from Jakarta and Bali.
  • Malaysia’s Becky Leng’s flying ponytail as she drilled two brilliant goals in the Div 1 women’s final.
  • Hong Kong’s Sam Agars’ old school full forward vibes – big grabs and big bombs for goal.
  • Singapore full forward Chantel Marsin’s outrageous goal from the forward pocket to seal the Div 1 women’s Grand Final.
  • The commitment of Pakistan AFL captain Talha Yousaf and four team mates to travel from Pakistan to make up numbers for various teams.
  • Hannah Slaughter’s tireless run and carry to lift her Cambodian team mates.
  • Philippines livewire small forward Lito Ramirez’s dazzling late goals to get the Eagles over the line against China.
  • Raine Sinarimbo’s bursting runs out of the middle for Hong Kong’s Div 2 women’s team.

What a weekend – I can’t wait for 2026!

Congratulations to all teams and participants for the spirit in which this festival of Asian footy was played, a massive thank you to the Thailand Tigers for hosting an amazing event and AFL Asia for its support and co-ordination.