ABOUT US
The Melbourne Based Dragons Supporters group (MBDS) love rugby league and we love the St George Illawarra Dragons.
We believe that rugby league is the greatest sport to ever be played on Victorian soil and that St George Illawarra is a club that transcends all the others as a GREAT club and we support it passionately.
MBDS was established on 8 September 2001 when 13 people attended the Max Hotel to watch St George Illawarra defeat the Canterbury Bulldogs 23-22 in the 1st week of the finals.
The objectives of MBDS then and now are:
- The provision of television coverage of all St George-Illawarra Dragons rugby league games to members at hotel establishments in Melbourne.
- Creation of a network of St George Illawarra supporters in Victoria who can enjoy rugby league together.
- Mutual respect between members and the establishments who provide the coverage of games.
- The creation of tangible links between the MBDS group and the St George Illawarra Dragon’s football club via which both can benefit.
The overriding barrier which needed to be overcome was the lack of free to air coverage of rugby league in Victoria. By joining forces as a group with quality pubs across Melbourne, Victorian dragon’s supporters can now watch their team play every week with other Dragons supporters!!!
2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007
2001
MBDS was established by George Georgiou with a simple message that was posted on a rugby league forum in late August with an attempt to start a Dragon’s supporters group in Melbourne. The response was a very positive one with about 6 people replying and providing contact details. One of the responses was from the Dragon’s club which quickly led to an editorial on the Dragons website promoting the new supporters group.
By the 8th of September MBDS had 10 names on their mailing list and the first event was held at the Max Hotel in Prahran.
Event |
Venue |
Attendance |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
1st Final V Bulldogs |
Max Hotel |
13 |
First official MBDS event |
| 2nd Final V Broncos | Max Hotel |
14 |
|
TOTAL EVENTS: 2 TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 27 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 13.5 |
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2002
By the beginning of the 2002 season George Georgiou stitched up a deal with the owner of the College Lawn Hotel in Prahran for Dragon’s games to be televised with audio and the season began with 13 people attending the Charity Shield.
The College Lawn was one of many positive developments in 2002 which helped to grow the group to about 45 members by the end of the year.
Article that appeared in League Week on September 5 2001
Highlights of 2002
- Melbourne Based Dragons Supporters, MBDS, becomes the official name of the group. The name was suggested by Basil Delimitros and George Georgiou, Mark Gaffey and Micheal Neilson who were the others to attend the fist MBDS meeting agreed.
- The St George Illawarra Dragon’s football club attend a special MBDS function at the College Lawn Hotel. Members of MBDS got to rub shoulders with the CEO, General Manager, players and staff.
- MBDS get a full page article in Rugby League week, further promoting the group.
- The All Star Café agrees to televising all Dragons finals games live with audio.
Event |
Venue |
Attendance |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Charity Shield V Rabbitohs |
College Lawn |
13 |
|
| Round 1 V Sharks | College Lawn |
9 |
|
| Round 2 V Panthers | College Lawn |
10 |
|
| Round 3 V Bulldogs | College Lawn |
9 |
|
| Round 5 V Eels | College Lawn |
5 |
|
| Special Event | College Lawn |
30 |
First function with Dragons players and officials. |
| Round 7 V Roosters | College Lawn |
10 |
|
| Round 8 V Eagles | College Lawn |
1 |
|
| Round 9 V Raiders | College Lawn |
7 |
|
| Round 11 V Broncos | College Lawn |
3 |
|
| Round 12 V Cowboys | College Lawn |
5 |
|
| Round 13 V Sharks | Crown Sports Bar |
9 |
|
| Round 14 V Storm | College Lawn |
2 |
|
| Round 18 V Bulldogs | Max Hotel |
5 |
|
| Round 21 V Knights | Max Hotel |
5 |
|
| Round 22 V Eagles | Max Hotel |
6 |
|
| Round 25 V Roosters | College Lawn |
3 |
|
| Round 26 V Knights | College Lawn |
5 |
|
| 1st Final V Knights | All Star Cafe |
20 |
First All Star Cafe event |
| 2nd Final V Sharks | All Star Cafe |
18 |
|
TOTAL EVENTS: 20 TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 177 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 8.85 |
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2003
2003 saw a small growth in membership to about 60 members but a drop in events due to the College Lawn struggling to accommodate us in the middle of the season because of other more popular sporting events such as the Rugby Tri Nations.
The other issue we had in 2003 was that the draw didn’t include a Dragons and Storm match in Melbourne. Most of our membership growth in 2002 was getting Dragons supporter’s details who attended the local Dragons match.
Highlights of 2003
- MBDS hold their first ANZAC day function. The ANZAC day event is now the most popular event in the regular season and has averaged an attendance of over 25 people from 2003 to 2007.
Event |
Venue |
Attendance |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Charity Shield V Rabbitohs |
College Lawn |
14 |
|
| Round 1 V Tigers | College Lawn |
9 |
|
| Round 2 V Eels | College Lawn |
10 |
|
| Round 3 V Raiders | College Lawn |
18 |
|
| Round 5 V Sea Eagles | College Lawn |
8 |
|
| Round 6 V Bulldogs | College Lawn |
3 |
|
| Round 7 V Roosters | College Lawn |
16 |
First family day ANZAC day event |
| Round 8 V Sharks | College Lawn |
19 |
|
| Round 9 V Panthers | College Lawn |
8 |
|
| Round 10 V Bulldogs | College Lawn |
11 |
|
| Round 11 V Rabbitohs | College Lawn |
8 |
|
| Round 12 V Cowboys | College Lawn |
9 |
|
| Round 16 V Raiders | College Lawn |
8 |
|
| Round 21 V Warriors | College Lawn |
9 |
|
TOTAL EVENTS: 14 TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 150 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 10.7 |
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2004
On the record books you would have thought that 2004 was no different to 2003 but that wasn’t the case. Membership grew to only about 80 and average attendances were much the same as the year before but behind the scenes MBDS was working on a number of projects that would see the group grow in the future and have a permanent place in Melbourne’s very competitive sporting landscape.
Article that appeared in Big League in April 2004
Highlights of 2004
- Paul Robertson joins George Georgiou in helping to run MBDS.
- George Meets with the rock band Kings Ransom and successfully pitches the idea of writing and recording a song promoting the St George Illawarra Dragons. Kings Ransom management along with MBDS put forward a business plan to the St George Illawarra Dragons football club and Sony after the song was recorded but the song is still yet to be released.
- The Pint on Punt Hotel becomes the fourth venue to televise Dragons games in Melbourne.
MBDS at Core Studios
Event |
Venue |
Attendance |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Charity Shield V Rabbitohs |
College Lawn |
10 |
|
| Round 1 V Raiders | College Lawn |
8 |
|
| Round 2 V Warriors | College Lawn |
27 |
Photo taken for Big League Editorial |
| Round 4 V Knights | College Lawn |
6 |
|
| Round 5 V Tigers | College Lawn |
5 |
|
| Round 6 V Panthers | College Lawn |
6 |
|
| Round 7 V Roosters | College Lawn |
38 |
All time record attendance since 2001 |
| Round 10 V Bulldogs | Pint on Punt |
6 |
First Pint on Punt event |
| Round 13 V Cowboys | Pint on Punt |
6 |
|
| Round 15 V Tigers | Max Hotel |
8 |
|
| Round 16 V Rabbitohs | Max Hotel |
8 |
|
| Round 18 V Broncos | Max Hotel |
3 |
|
| Round 20 V Sharks | College Lawn |
15 |
|
| Round 21 V Cowboys | Pint on Punt |
9 |
|
| Round 23 V Warriors | Pint on Punt |
1 |
|
| Round 25 V Sea Eagles | Max Hotel |
3 |
|
| 1st Final V Panthers | All Star Cafe |
16 |
|
TOTAL EVENTS: 17 TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 175 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 10.3 |
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2005
2005 was a big year for MBDS. New venues and better screening times saw our average attendance almost double against the previous year’s average. Our numbers grew too just over 110 members and we also had a record number of events.
Highlights of 2005
- Paul Burden joins George Georgiou and Paul Robertson in helping to run MBDS.
- Paul Burden successfully negotiates with the very classy Grosvenor Hotel in St Kilda to televise Dragons games and the Grosvenor becomes an instant success with 23 people attending the first function there. Within three weeks the Grosvenor replaces the Pint on Punt Hotel and the long serving College Lawn Hotel.
- A revamped All Star Café now named the Steak Out and a brand new venue, “The Pub” become two of our regular venues for 2005.
- The Steak out televises Friday night Dragons games at the same time Sydney viewers get to watch it. This direct satellite feed from Sydney was a first in Melbourne for the regular season.
- “The Pub” televises the channel 9 Sunday afternoon Dragons games at the same time Sydney viewers get to watch it. Both Friday night and Sunday afternoon games were due to Paul Robertson’s many months of negotiating with the Crown complex.
- An all time record attendance of 55 turn up for the 1st final against the Sharks at the Steak Out.
Event |
Venue |
Attendance |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Charity Shield V Rabbitohs |
College Lawn |
12 |
|
| Round 1 V Bulldogs | College Lawn |
9 |
|
| Round 2 V Storm | Pint on Punt |
7 |
|
| Round 3 V Panthers | Pint on Punt |
6 |
|
| Round 4 V Raiders | Pint on Punt |
7 |
|
| Round 5 V Sea Eagles | Pint on Punt |
12 |
Record attendance for a Pint on Punt event |
| Round 6 V Broncos | College Lawn |
9 |
|
| Round 7 V Roosters | College Lawn |
21 |
Free BBQ for ANZAC Day event |
| Round 8 V Tigers | College Lawn |
9 |
|
| Round 9 V Rabbitohs | Pint on Punt |
6 |
|
| Round 11 V Knights | Grosvenor Hotel |
23 |
New deal with the Grosvenor Hotel in St Kilda |
| Round 13 V Warriors | Grosvenor Hotel |
13 |
|
| Round 14 V Cowboys | College Lawn |
11 |
|
| Round 15 V Rabbitohs | Grosvenor Hotel |
20 |
|
| Round 16 V Tigers | Grosvenor Hotel |
12 |
|
| Round 18 V Eels | Steakout - Crown |
16 |
|
| Round 19 V Sea Eagles | The Pub - Crown |
19 |
|
| Round 20 V Sharks | The Pub - Crown |
15 |
|
| Round 21 V Roosters | Steakout - Crown |
17 |
|
| Round 22 V Cowboys | Steakout - Crown |
13 |
|
| Round 23 V Broncos | The Pub - Crown |
26 |
|
| Round 24 V Eels | The Pub - Crown |
42 |
|
| Round 26 V Knights | The Pub - Crown |
14 |
|
| 1st Final V Sharks | Steakout - Crown |
55 |
All time record attendance since 2001 |
| Preliminary Final V Tigers | Steakout - Crown |
45 |
|
TOTAL EVENTS: 25 TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 439 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 17.56 |
|||
2006
Another strong year for MBDS with a record number of events and a strong average attendance. 2006 was the first year MBDS obtained some presence on the web and it was Paul Burdens hard work that help set up a web page that was linked to the Jubilee Ave website. By the end of the year our membership grew to over 130 members.
Highlights of 2006
-
MBDS obtain their first major sponsor, ONESTOP home loans.
-
MBDS introduce their first peice of merchandise in the form of a t-shirt
- MBDS web page linked to the Dragons largest unofficial website, Jubilee Ave
- First joint function with the Melbourne Wests Tigers Fanatics at the Rising Sun Hotel. A total of 18 Dragons and Tigers supporters got together to watch the Dragons defeat the Tigers.
- MBDS try the Station Hotel for the NRL finals and proves to be a big hit with over 130 people attending the three events. The Station Hotel becomes the eighth venue to hold MBDS events
MBDS at the Station Hotel during the 2006 finals series
Event |
Venue |
Attendance |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Charity Shield V Rabbitohs |
Grosvenor Hotel |
8 |
|
| Round 1 V Tigers | Steakout - Crown |
16 |
|
| Round 2 V Panthers | The Pub - Crown |
28 |
|
| Round 3 V Rabbitohs | Grosvenor Hotel |
7 |
|
| Round 4 V Broncos | The Pub - Crown |
13 |
|
| Round 5 V Knights | Grosvenor Hotel |
8 |
|
| Round 6 V Sea Eagles | Grosvenor Hotel |
9 |
|
| Round 7 V Roosters | Grosvenor Hotel |
24 |
Record attendance at the Grosvenor |
| Round 9 V Sharks | Grosvenor Hotel |
8 |
|
| Round 10 V Warriors | Grosvenor Hotel |
10 |
|
| Round 12 V Knights | Steakout - Crown |
4 |
|
| Round 13 V Eels | Steakout - Crown |
14 |
|
| Round 14 V Panthers | Grosvenor Hotel |
7 |
|
| Round 15 V Broncos | Steakout - Crown |
9 |
|
| Round 16 V Cowboys | Grosvenor Hotel |
12 |
|
| Round 18 V Rabbitohs | Grosvenor Hotel |
3 |
|
| Round 19 V Bulldogs | Steakout - Crown |
9 |
|
| Round 20 V Raiders | Steakout - Crown |
10 |
|
| Round 21 V Storm | Steakout - Crown |
15 |
|
| Round 22 V Eels | Steakout - Crown |
29 |
|
| Round 23 V Bulldogs | Steakout - Crown |
10 |
|
| Round 24 V Tigers | Rising Sun Hotel |
18 |
First joint function b/w MBDS and Tigers fan club |
| Round 25 V Sharks | Grosvenor Hotel |
21 |
|
| Round 26 V Roosters | Grosvenor Hotel |
4 |
|
| 1st Final V Broncos | Station Hotel |
42 |
First Station Hotel event |
| 2nd Final V Sea Eagles | Station Hotel |
51 |
|
| Preliminary Final V Storm | Station Hotel |
38 |
|
TOTAL EVENTS: 27 TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 427 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 15.81 |
|||
2007
It was a tough year for the Dragons on the field in 2007 and MBDS was slightly affected by the Dragons performance with average numbers down to just under 14 people per event. It was also a slow year in recruitment with our members growing to just a little over 140.
Highlights of 2007
- First touch footy game between MBDS and the Melbourne WTF, (Tigers fan club). The day included a BBQ and viewing of the round 9 clash between the Dragons and the Tigers.
- Will Weijers joins George Georgiou and Paul Robertson in helping to run MBDS. Unfortunately due to other work commitments, Paul Burden made 2007 his last year in helping to run MBDS.
- George Georgiou and Will Weijers spend the off season working with a number of people, including Leon Borrack of Leon Borrack Designs, the managers of many pubs and business owners of potential sponsors to build the MBDS website, produce new brochures to promote MBDS in Melbourne and prepare for the 2008 season.. It involved negotiating with new venues to introduce the “MBDS on tour” campaign and talking to potential sponsors to help with the “MBDS rewards” campaign. The total cost for the MBDS 5 year vision will come to over $3500 which is mostly being funded by ONESTOP home loans plus small contributions from Will Weijers and George Georgiou.
The MBDS touch side that took on the Wests Tigers Fanatics
Event |
Venue |
Attendance |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Charity Shield V Rabbitohs |
Grosvenor Hotel |
25 |
Record attendance for a Charity Shield |
| Round 1 V Titans | Station Hotel |
21 |
|
| Round 2 V Knights | Station Hotel |
13 |
|
| Round 3 V Cowboys | Grosvenor Hotel |
10 |
|
| Round 4 V Sharks | Grosvenor Hotel |
9 |
|
| Round 5 V Storm | Grosvenor Hotel |
27 |
|
| Round 6 V Roosters | Grosvenor Hotel |
30 |
Record attendabce for the Grosvenor |
| Round 8 V Panthers | Station Hotel |
8 |
|
| Round 9 V Tigers | Station Hotel |
28 |
First touch footy game against the Tigers fan base |
| Round 10 V Titans | Station Hotel |
15 |
|
| Round 11 V Raiders | Station Hotel |
5 |
|
| Round 12 V Broncos | Station Hotel |
4 |
|
| Round 13 V Sharks | Grosvenor Hotel |
8 |
|
| Round 14 V Eels | Station Hotel |
10 |
|
| Round 16 V Sea Eagles | Station Hotel |
16 |
|
| Round 17 V Raiders | Grosvenor Hotel |
6 |
|
| Round 18 V Warriors | Grosvenor Hotel |
5 |
|
| Round 19 V Panthers | Grosvenor Hotel |
11 |
|
| Round 20 V Bulldogs | Station Hotel |
16 |
|
| Round 21 V Knights | Station Hotel |
11 |
|
| Round 22 V Rabbitohs | Station Hotel |
21 |
|
| Round 23 V Cowboys | Station Hotel |
18 |
|
| Round 24 V Eels | Station Hotel |
5 |
|
| Round 25 V Sea Eagles | Station Hotel |
3 |
|
TOTAL EVENTS: 24 TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 327 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 13.81 |
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