Save Our South Dragons

The Save Our South Dragons group remains optimistic about the return of a second Melbourne franchise to the National Basketball League despite being overlooked for next season’s competition.

The league today announced the composition of the 2010/11 format, highlighted by the much-anticipated resurrection of a Sydney club. 

While it was hoped that Melbourne would soon return to being a two-team town, group founder Hayden Ostrom Brown assured Victorian basketball fans that they had not been forgotten in the league’s expansion plans.

“We had the opportunity to meet with the league and were buoyed by their faith in the Dragons’ brand and the merits of a second side in Melbourne,” Ostrom Brown said.

“It was made clear that Sydney and Brisbane were their main priorities for the coming season, which was perfectly understandable from a broadcast rights perspective.”

“Now that Sydney is back, we urge the NBL to work towards the addition of the South Dragons and Brisbane for season 2011/12, taking us to a national competition that we can be proud of,” he said.

Ostrom Brown cited Sydney’s rebirth as a source of motivation for Dragons supporters who may have given up hope after club owners Mark Cowan and Raphael Geminder withdrew from the revamped league.

“When the Kings left the scene in a mire of controversy and the Spirit went by the wayside, the final nail appeared to be well and truly hammered into Sydney basketball’s coffin,” he said.

“Today’s news shows that we can dare to dream.”

The Save Our Dragons group has been encouraging fans to pledge their financial support to demonstrate the demand for the club’s return and possibly replicate the community-ownership model implemented by Wollongong and Cairns.

“Now more than ever is the time for Dragons supporters to keep the fireburning by visiting our website and indicating their level of support through hypothetical pledges and membership purchases,” Ostrom Brownsaid.

“Good things come to those who wait, and maybe with a bit of luck we’ll eventually see our championship banner hanging from the rafters.