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 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!!!
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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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
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 |
|||
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 came from obtaining Dragons supporter’s details who attended the local Dragons match.
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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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
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 |
|||
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.
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 |
|||
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.
MBDS obtain their first major sponsor, ONESTOP home loans.
MBDS introduce their first peice of merchandise in the form of a t-shirt


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 |
|||
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.
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 |
|||
What a difference a year makes. While the Dragons performed only slightly better on the field in 2008, MBDS had record growth in many areas. Average attendances were up by 61% with the average MBDS event attracting just over 21 members every week, our members grew from 140 to just over 200, 87 members attended a function in 2008, more than double that of 2007, and we had a 90% jump of members attending more than 10 events in a year.

ANZAC Day at the Dick Whittington Tavern
Event |
Venue |
Attendance |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Charity Shield V Rabbitohs |
The Leveson |
27 |
Record attendance for a Charity Shield |
| Round 1 V Tigers | Mount View Hotel |
29 |
|
| Round 2 V Titans | Grosvenor Hotel |
20 |
|
| Round 3 V Raiders | Station Hotel |
22 |
|
| Round 4 V Sharks | The Peacock Inn |
8 |
|
| Round 5 V Cowboys | Mount View Hotel |
20 |
|
| Round 6 V Bulldogs | Arcadia Hotel |
12 |
|
| Round 7 V Roosters | Dick Whittington Tavern |
33 |
|
| Round 9 V Eels | Swan Hotel |
19 |
|
| Round 10 V Storm | Arcadia Hotel |
6 |
|
| Round 11 V Sea Eagles | Richmond Rising Sun |
10 |
|
| Round 12 V Rabbitohs | Arcadia Hotel |
16 |
|
| Round 13 V Broncos | Station Hotel |
24 |
|
| Round 15 V Panthers | Richmond Rising Sun |
17 |
|
| Round 16 V Titans | Arcadia Hotel |
26 |
|
| Round 17 V Knights | Mount View Hotel |
21 |
|
| Round 18 V Raiders | College Lawn Hotel |
26 |
|
| Round 20 V Bulldogs | Dick Whittington Tavern |
16 |
|
| Round 21 V Sharks | Arcadia Hotel |
27 |
|
| Round 22 V Tigers | Station Hotel |
31 |
|
| Round 23 V Broncos | Station Hotel |
14 |
|
| Round 24 V Warriors | Limerick Arms Hotel |
21 |
|
| Round 25 V Eels | Arcadia Hotel |
15 |
|
| Round 26 - Roosters | Limerick Arms Hotel |
23 |
|
| Finals - Week 1 - Sea Eagles | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
45 |
|
TOTAL EVENTS: 25 TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 528 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 21.12 |
|||
It was the biggest year for MBDS so far with membership climbing past 250, attendances averaging just over 33 per event and our overall record attendance of 55 back in 2005 broken four times during the year. MBDS held 26 events in 2009 with a total attendance of 875 people.

MBDS D Grade Touch Side - Premiers Summer 2009 - 2010

ANZAC Day at the Arcadia Hotel
Event |
Venue |
Attendance |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Charity Shield V Rabbitohs |
Cricket Club Hotel |
30 |
Record attendance for a Charity Shield |
| Round 2 V Titans | Arcadia Hotel |
14 |
|
| Round 3 V Sharks | Limerick Hotel |
12 |
|
| Round 4 V Broncos | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
37 |
|
| Round 5 V Eels | Limerick Arms |
23 |
|
| Round 6 V Knights | Cricket Club Hotel |
12 |
|
| Round 7 V Roosters | Arcadia Hotel |
61 |
All time Record Attandance |
| Round 8 V Warriors | College Lawn Hotel |
26 |
|
| Round 9 V Cowboys | Cricket Club Hotel |
14 |
|
| Round 10 V Bulldogs | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
40 |
|
| Round 11 V Sharks | Arcadia Hotel |
16 |
|
| Round 12 V Panthers | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
30 |
|
| Round 13 V Titans | College Lawn Hotel |
12 |
|
| Round 14 V Cowboys | All Nation Hotel |
26 |
First All Nations Hotel event |
| Round 16 V Tigers | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
27 |
|
| Round 17 V Roosters | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
34 |
|
| Round 18 V Sea Eagles | Limerick Arms |
36 |
|
| Round 20 V Warriors | College Lawn Hotel |
40 |
|
| Round 21 V Storm | Limerick Arms |
88 |
All time Record Attendance |
| Round 22 V Panthers | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
28 |
|
| Round 23 V Raiders | Cricket Club Hotel |
10 |
|
| Round 24 V Broncos | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
51 |
|
| Round 25 V Rabbitohs | Arcadia Hotel |
22 |
|
| Round 26 - Eels | College Lawn Hotel |
42 |
|
| Finals - Week 1 - Eels | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
74 |
|
| Finals - Week 2 - Broncos | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
70 |
|
TOTAL EVENTS: 26 TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 875 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 33.65 |
|||
It was the year we broke the drought. After 28 years of campaigning for the Illawarra Steelers, 31 years of campaigning for the St George Dragons and most importantly 12 years of campaigning for the St George Illawarra Dragons, we finally pulled it off.
MBDS had another year of growth with a record 1,159 members and guests attending 27 functions, (an average of 43 people per event)

Preliminary Final Night at the Rising Sun Hotel, South Melbourne
Event |
Venue |
Attendance |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Charity Shield V Rabbitohs |
Pugg Mahones |
36 |
First Puggs event & record attendance for a Charity Shield |
| Round 1 V Eels | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
58 |
|
| Round 2 V Bulldogs | College Lawn Hotel |
33 |
|
| Round 3 V Cowboys | College Lawn Hotel |
46 |
|
| Round 5 V Broncos | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
52 |
|
| Round 6 V Titans | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
35 |
|
| Round 7 V Roosters | College Lawn Hotel |
104 |
All time Record Attandance |
| Round 8 V Sharks | Arcadia Hotel |
13 |
|
| Round 9 V Sea Eagles | Arcadia Hotel |
17 |
|
| Round 10 V Bulldogs | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
28 |
|
| Round 11 V Raiders | College Lawn Hotel |
35 |
|
| Round 12 V Eels | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
34 |
|
| Round 13 V Warriors | College Lawn Hotel |
24 |
|
| Round 15 V Sharks | Pugg Mahones |
24 |
|
| Round 16 V Tigers | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
60 |
|
| Round 17 V Panthers | Pugg Mahones |
25 |
|
| Round 19 V Rabbitohs | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
19 |
|
| Round 20 V Titans | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
48 |
|
| Round 21 V Broncos | College Lawn |
47 |
|
| Round 22 V Roosters | College Lawn |
26 |
|
| Round 23 V Sea Eagles | Pugg Mahones |
13 |
|
| Round 24 V Raiders | Arcadia Hotel |
21 |
|
| Round 25 V Knights | British Crown |
34 |
|
| Round 26 - Rabbitohs | British Crown |
35 |
|
| Finals - Week 1 - Sea Eagles | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
86 |
|
| Finals - Week 3 - Tigers | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun |
131 |
All time Record Attandance |
| Grand Final - Roosters | Sth Melbourne Rising Sun | 75 |
|
TOTAL EVENTS: 27 TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 1159 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE: 42.93 |
|||