The 2025 Asian Championships are fast approaching and will be held at Polo Escape in Chonburi on Saturday, 30th August, 2025. The Asian Championships is the premier Australian rules Football tournament in Asia and welcomes men’s and women’s teams from across Asia to compete annually for Asian footy glory.
The Thailand Tiger’s are seeking a strong result in both the men’s and women’s competitions after strong seasons on both fronts. The men’s team were successful at the Indochina Cup this May, securing victories over both Vietnam and Cambodia to take the cup for the first time since 2015.
The women’s team are one of the huge improvers in Asia, following the Thailand Serpent’s, the Thailand national women’s team, taking home the inaugural Asia Cup in Vietnam last December.
The Asia Cup is the new initiative from the AFL, with regional tournaments replacing the previous International Cup. As the women prepare to continue their recent success, let’s take a look back at the success of the Serpent’s at the Asia Cup last December.
The inaugural Asia Cup success for the Thailand Serpent’s
The Asia Cup is a new football tournament for Asian nationals held every 2-3 years in the Asian region. Last December Thailand embarked on the monumental task of bringing a men’s and women’s team to the tournament. The logistics of bringing such a large touring group were no small order and it is with thanks to the support of our Sponsors who were able to make this happen.
First and foremost the support from Australian Visas Thailand was exceptional both on and off the field. Australian Visas Thailand were central to Thailand sending their first ever national representitives and became the naming rights sponsor of both teams. Simon Wetherell, Managing Director of Australian Visas Thailand said: “We were incredibly happy to partner with the Thailand Tiger’s and support the men’s and women’s Serpent’s team at the inaugural Asia Cup. The opportunity was so much more than just a football tournament, but it was incredible that the Thailand Serpent’s women’s team were able to win the tournament.”
The ongoing support from Austhai Geophysical, who have been long time supporters of the CUBS (Communities United by Sport) program in Thailand, felt it was a just reward for all the hard work done off the field. Gerard McNeill, Managing Director of Austhai Geophysical said: “Having seen the CUBS program develop over a number of years, it was very rewarding to see that Thailand Serpent’s lift the cup.”
What can we expect from the Thailand Serpent’s at the Asian Champs?
With the Thailand Tiger’s entering two women’s teams for the Asian Championships in both Division 1 and Division 2, we are expecting many of the Asia Cup winning Serpent’s to feature heavily.
Key to the Tiger’s team will be the solid 2025 form of Benz. The 16 year old Benz has dominated footy in Asia recently, being named as a member of the All Asia team at the Asian Cup and player of the Tournament at both the 2025 Anzac Day fixture and the 2025 Indochina Cup.
Another key player will be Dee Makris who led the team to victory at the Asia Cup. Dee has recently transitioned from a successful football career in Thailand and will be one of the players to watch at the Asian Champs.
There will also by a strong contingent joining the team from the Phuket Power this year, a huge boon for the wider adoption of Australian Rules Football in Thailand. Nitt Wetherell, a key Serpent’s player and sponsor of the team through Australian Visas Thailand is excited to see where this team can go. “I am so proud to be part of the Thailand Serpent’s and looking forward to joining the Thailand Tiger’s at the Asian Champs this year. We are certainly hoping we can win this competition as well.”