By ROY WARD
SOUTHERN Dragons spent the past season being shown on the big screen at every AFL game after being included in one of the AFL’s advertising videos.
On the field the Dragons spent their fourth Southern Football League season as part of its Division 2 competition.
They were one of the SFL’s biggest success stories, a multicultural club based in Springvale which pulled in players from all nationalities and backgrounds to play Aussie rules football.
The Dragons also won the SFL Division 3 premiership in 2011.
But the Dragons will no longer be in the SFL after announcing on Wednesday night (Dec 12) that they will move to the Victorian Amateur Football Association, starting next season.
The Dragons announced the move on their website and Facebook page posting a brief statement.
The club also announced it would from now on be known as ‘Dragons Football Club’ to extend its reach beyond its south-eastern roots.
The statement did not explain why the club had made the move but thanked the SFL and its clubs for their assistance.
“After four successful seasons competing in the Southern Football League (SFL), which included a premiership in 2011, the Dragons will be returning to the competition from where the club originated from,” the statement read.
“The club is thankful and appreciative of the efforts, administration and assistance provided by the SFL’s board, chief executive (prior and existing), as well as the sportsmanship and friendship of competing clubs.
“As Australia’s leading Australian Rules Football club that focuses on improving engagement with people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, the Dragons Football Club looks forward to the next chapter of the club’s journey, starting from participation in the VAFA from 2013 — and beyond.”
