Dragons News

From the AFL Website:

THE AFL strengthened its ties with China with the booming nation’s vice-president, Xi Jinping, attending Saturday night’s clash between Carlton and Fremantle at Etihad Stadium.

Xi was hosted by a range of dignitaries, including AFL commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and Victorian premier John Brumby.

Jamie Pi, a Chinese-born Australian, who plays for the Southern Dragons in suburban Melbourne’s Southern Football League, was on hand to explain the rules in Mandarin.

Link to Full Story Here

Even if you have a niggle make sure you let one of the coaches know- better we know- we will do everything to support you getting right for a game but we must let other players know they are on the emergency list with the chance of being called up- do the right thing by your team and teammates.

Please Be Aware

* The coaches will select players based on the information we have and presume everyone is available unless they have contacted one of us.
* With the number of players pushing for selection in all teams anyone pulling out after Thursday night’s listing without previously discussing a potential situation that you could predict may jeopardise your position the following week.  We know that sometimes situations are unavoidable but better we are forewarned.

Pregame
Prepare well. Some players had little sleep the previous night of the first game and didn’t perform as well as we know they can. Drink plenty of water- abstain from alcohol. Carbohydrates (pasta’s, noodles) are good the night before but keep away from creamy sauces.   Stretch even a light run or kick the night before is fine. Essentially you know what works well for yourself but heavy foods won’t release the energy you need to maximise performance.

Get to the game with enough time to put on taping - each coach will be talking to players and taking them through warm ups around 45 minutes prior to a game. No one should be getting taped at this stage- play together, warm up together.   Set goals for the day (where to run, tackling, set play routine). Visualise what you will do and how you will do it and see yourself doing it well.

Be mindful of others in their pregame routines.

Thursday Night Selection Meal
Stephen Chan’s chicken surprise and lip droolin’ chops!
Honey and Soy chicken wings, chops, sausages, salad + choice of Soft Drink
Only $10 – make sure you hang around and support the club

Showdown against Sandown this week:

Invite family, friends, others- Lets get a huge home club support for our teams this weekend.

In this SFL kitchen who will reign supreme? Invite friends, family and supporters and make this weekend a huge event. Triple header- thirds to start at 9:30 am, seconds at 11:45 am, before the ‘Thoi Short Diversity Cup’ will be decided by the seniors from 2 pm. See the attachment for information.

Micky has been magnificent behind the scenes in getting support from the AFL and even the local councillors will be there to award the Best on Ground medals. Local media may be on board. Tri also has to be commended for his work too.

Spots to play in the main game are up for grabs with a strong win in the two’s and a few players likely to be available for selection- don’t lose your place by missing training.

SFL Website

Flyer: Thoi-Short-Diversity-Cup

Can players complete and bring this medical form to the club/ game ASAP. This is necessary in case of an emergency. Your information needs to be accurate, however will remain confidential.

FROM Sophana: Hi guys - I know it’s very last minute but attached is the medical form for players to complete. Can you forward this on and get the players to return a hard copy to KIM, LINDA or myself asap. Thanks, see you guys tomorrow.

Medical History Form

It is recommended by the club that players take out ambulance insurance (can be completed online)  www.ambulance.vic.gov.au

Players should also look into private medical insurance (Iselect can assist you with your individual needs)

Players that missed out on organising a mouthguard should see Gary To to organise this. Again, a huge thanks to Gary for giving players a massive discount.

In the Thirds team there are players named as emergency. This is only a space issue on the spreadsheet. All players named will be given a run- we won’t have emergencies in the thirds. Jumpers for the thirds will be brought to the ground.

Teamlists and contacts can be downloaded:

Teams Round 1

Players that fall into the following 3 categories are advised that in order to be playing this week with the Dragons you must have completed and submitted the form attached to this email.

1. Players who have not played football with a previous club
2. Players who have played with another football club 
3. Players who played with the Dragons during VAFA in 2007/2008 but did not play last year

These forms must be completed and sent to Tri Thoi ASAP. He will be at training on Thursday or you can scan it and email it. Even if you are paid up, we are prohibited from playing you: SFL laws
 
tri@xtreemtc.com.au
 
Players that have played with the Dragons in 2009 do not need to worry about this email.

Here is info for those wanting to have custom mouthguards made this THURSDAY APRIL 8th

- First thing when training starts, write your name down on the whiteboard.
- Impressions (Mouth) to be taken during training from 6:30pm through to dinner, will call you out to club rooms one at a time
- Allow approx 2 weeks time for construction.
- Cost $80 (usually $130-150, special deal for Dragons Players only). I won’t make money off these, it’ll be just to cover my time and materials. Any extra proceeds will go to the club!
- Payment MUST be on the day. No money no mouthguard.
- Anyone with private health insurance can take that to their insurer and get it claimed, receipts to be given on pick up of  mouthguard.
- Colours available: popular single colours (white, black, clear) or AFL team colours (eg Hawthorn) (Dragons!!!)
- For those who can’t make Thursday, book in to see me at my work place in Oakleigh or Narre Warren South, just call and make an appointment with myself to have a mouthguard made. Tell reception you know me from the footy club.

1) Andrew Gikas & Associates
1550 Dandenong Rd, Oakleigh 3166
9569 8877

2) Amberly Dentistry
251-253 Ormond Rd, Narre Warren South 3805
8794 8801

A lot is happening around the club over the next month. Make sure you know what is going on! We are now in the rooms and should have the lights on when we train on Thursday. Few hickups with the keys but we should be right by the end of this week.
 
Beep Test
Pre season has been well attended over the last couple of months and there have been some huge improvements in skill, game awareness and team work. No less with our fitness. 23 players recorded PB’s last night out of 25 players who have done a beep test before. Well done to the group on the way in which people have approached their fitness and the commitment they have made to improve. This will need to be ongoing throughout the year, but be confident that you have put in the work to be ready for round 1.
 
Subs
I published a list of players who have paid the other day based on the details passed on. There are a couple of players who have expressed to me that they have paid. Please contact Tri tri@xtreemtc.com.au if you have paid. The list will go up again this weekend. If you still require payment of subs then details are in the Second Attachment (Subs). Or payment can be made via EFT (and then email Tri to let hime know you have transferred this money) to;
Dragons FC
BSB: 013271
ACC #:478682784
 
Sponsors
Do you know of a business who may want to come on board? The Attachments (Sponsors) list some of the benefits we can provide for businesses who are interested in supporting the club.
 
Training
From this week there will be a calender put up in the rooms for players to write in known dates for when they are unavailable. Please do not abuse this as selections will be made based on people letting coaches know they are available.
Thursday 1st: Practice Game 4 x 15 minute Qrts. Warm up starts at 6:30 pm
Tuesday 6th: Training as normal
Thursday 8th: Short session (1 hour). Jumper Presentation $20 prior to the night $25 on the night. This includes a meal. Charlie - our restraunter extraordinaire (CnF Toorak Rd, South Yarra) will be catering. Teams, leadership group, Captains and jumpers will be presented and announced on the night.
Saturday 10th: Round 1 Seniors and Reserves will be playing Doveton.  The thirds fixture is yet to be announced by SFL.

Selections
From a coaching point of view this is going to be difficult. However we will apply the following principals- if you feel that you are an exception to this then it is your responsibility to discuss this with myself and Pidge.
Players must have paid Subs or made a financial arrangement with Tri tri@xtreemtc.com.au
Players that have trainined will be selected for Seniors and Reserves. Note players living in country locations like Warragul and Ballarat are exempt as this is an unreasonable expectation.
Players will be selected based on form and team balance, as well as adherence to team and club rules.
The Selection committee will be made up of the Senior, Reserves, Thirds (co) Coaches as well as Tri. In some cases players from the leadership group will be invited into team selection to give their opinion.  
Teams will be sent to the group Thursday evening. Players that withdraw after the list has gone out will not be selected in that same team the following week. Players withdrawing on the day will not be selected the following week and will be required to support the coaching staff (runner, umpiring, water) and will not play until such time as they fulfill this duty. If you are not sure if you can make a game let the coaching staff know prior to Thursday (work, injury, other). In the case of extreme personal situations then please notify the staff at the earliest convenience, we will do anything to support you during this time. Following point 5 this will exempt you from this situation.
Coaches Details;
                                    Seniors    Justin Garrett  04 333 222 87 garrett.justin.j@edumail.vic.gov.au 
                                    Reserves Tom Cochill     04 326 332 76 tom@xtreemtc.com.au
                                    Thirds      Trav Hyland     04 331 593 17 travis@malaysiaairlines.com
                                                    Jaime Pi         04 111 370 19  jiaming.pi@anz.com        
Make sure if you text coaches that you write you name at the end of the text.If you have to withdraw from a game, we expect a phone call.

Please note that selection is a difficult exercise and sometimes we may not always agree with where you feel you should be playing. However, don’t be discouraged, work hard and prove us wrong- put pressure on the guys above you- but don’t get complacent, there is always something each can do to get better and we want to reward players who put disappointment behind them and work hard at improving. Remember we are all working towards the same thing- to make the club successful, to improve as a team and to improve as a player.
 
Game Day
Players are expected to arrive 1 hour prior to a game. If you require strapping/ taping them see the trainers prior to this. There will be limited chance to do this after this time
45 minutes prior to the game ALL players will be addressed by their coach. If you are later than this you may be replaced.
Get dressed
30 minutes prior to the game ALL players will do a running warm up and then stretch
15 minutes prior- final address
10 minutes prior- on ground warm up routine
No doubt everyone is looking forward to 2010 and I wish everyone all the success this year as a team and with the individual goals you have set for the year.
 
Go Dragons!

Southern-Dragons-2010-subs

Sponsors-Pack

Sponsors-Sheet

Div-3-fixture

8:00 am Keeley Park. Call out to trainers-can you let me know if you are available?
 
Some guys on this list have indicated that they may not be available even though I’ve listed them here and Raj apparently has to beg his wife for a leave pass. Still about 10 players short (Prez and I will play if we have to). Need to know ASAP- reply to me via TEXT 0433322287 or email garrett.justin.j@edumail.vic.gov.au
 
B  Glen   Noel   Jarrod 
HB  Micky Sam  Rohan  Tanga 
C  Chongy   Gary   Ben Chen 
HF  Doski   Ian   Machine 
F  JP   Roman   Kane 
R  Jimmy   Ben Liu  Tuan 
Int  Arnie   Mitch   Yuta   Jordan
    
B  Trav   Lammy   Johnson 
HB  Clint   Stephen Ch  Bruiser 
C  Willsy   J Garrett  Pete L 
HF  Pete P   Puliker  Tung 
F  Ronson   Prez   Hatzi 
R    Cam   Colin 
Int       
    
Rucks- Chong and Jimmy to do 2 extra qrts each