Save Our South Dragons

GROUP FORMS TO SAVE THE DRAGONS!

Since the South Dragons withdrew from the 2009/10 NBL season, there?s been a lot said about the need for a second club in Melbourne. Few could forget what the vibe was like when we had three Melbourne teams (which was still fewer than the most we?ve had) plus a team in Geelong battling it out in the NBL. The rivalry was fierce and it fed the sport. Basketball was abuzz with fans and media interest. I think it?s safe to say that that feeling was aroused yet again when the Melbourne Tigers and the South Dragons faced off in last season?s NBL Grand Final. Although it was early days, fans were starting to think ?maybe?, yet again. The series went to five, there was plenty of spite, aggression and quality ball. Of course, it was all short lived and since the decision of the Dragons to sit out this season, it didn?t take long for talk to commence about another team getting off the ground, maybe as early as next year, and the rumour mill is spinning ferociously. One commonly heard one is the formation of an association based club spawned out of the banding of a number of Melbourne clubs. I can?t help but ask the question: have we simply forgotten about the Dragons? Was it not a hiatus, or has the buzzer sounded? A group, led by Berwick 18 year old Hayden Ostrom Brown are doing more than asking questions. They are working towards bringing the club back. Looking to bring the club back under a community-based model, not too dissimilar to Wollongong and Cairns, Ostrom Brown hopes to gather enough support to make this a possibility. ?During the off-season we saw both Wollongong and Cairns? NBL teams saved by their local communities, so I don?t see why we can?t keep the fire burning for the Dragons,? Ostrom Brown told the Leader Newspaper. ?We?re a bigger town and I think fans would jump at the opportunity to help,? he said. He has since been interviewed on SEN radio, featured in local papers and is working hard to raise awareness and support for the return of the club. There?s a facebook group gathering members and a website www.saveourdragons.com where people can sign up and pledge money and there?s already many people getting on board. LINK: http://www.bigv.com.au/uploads/media/Overtime_01.pdf