Being international athletes, it would come as no surprise that the Dragons football club has had a few moments with farmous people.  Here is just a snippet:

• Australian Prime Minister.  John Howard appeared at the 2003 Bali 9s tournament which the Dragons competed in.  This was the first anniversary of the tragic Bali bombings.  “Today is a great day in Australian sport.  Matthew Hayden has made a record 380 runs, the Wallabies won their first game over Argentina at the world cup and the Batemans Bay Seahawks have won the Bali 9s”  Mr Howard said before presenting the cup.  Pity it was not the Dragons who won it.

• Hong Kong racing fraternity.  Trainer David Hayes was a long time player for the Dragons.  It may not be that well known that Haysey played SANFL football.  As he will tell you, he kicked a bag of 7 goals in his last game and then retired as it could only go downhill from there.  Damien Oliver once also laced on a boot for the Dragons while in town in the late 1990s.

•  Conroy Chan.  Conroy played a few games in the late 1990s and early 2000s.  He went on to marry Josie Ho (Stanley’s daughter) and is now a famous Hong Kong actor and musician in his own right.

•  Mark Seymour.  Mark Seymour was present at a tournament in Ho Chi Mihn in 1998 that the Dragons competed in.  Mark managed to get on the ground briefly, but saved his best for the night when he got on stage with the band at the post-game function to sing a couple of Hunters classics.  Dragons rock duo Mega and Macca were very impressed!

•  1999 grand final.  The 1999 grand final in Hong Kong was attended by several AFL players.  Matthew Nicks, Scott West, Brett Montgomery and Andrew Thompson.  They were flown up by sponsor Ansett.  Scott West in particular was given a welcome by the club, being called a finals choker (based on their effort in the 1997 and 1998 preliminary finals) by an unnamed Dragon who West promptly sent tumbling to the floor with nothing more than a push in the chest!

•  Barry Cable.  Arguably WA’s best ever footballer, Barry Cable attended the 2005 grand final in Hong Kong sponsored by Steve Douglas from SMATS.  It was good Australian common sense.  While setting up the function room, Barry came in for a chat and showed player Nathan Byrne that he had not lost his handballing skills by sending him reeling with one in the bread basket from 20 yards.

•  Darwin media storm in 1997.  The Dragons competed at the Arafura games in 1995, 1997 and 1999.  1997 is the year that will be best remembered by the media outlets due to the controversial tour t-shirts.  The team runner wearing the t-shirt during a game in front of 2,000 people didn’t help.  There were several letters to the editor of the Darwin Daily and a cartoon that appeared in the paper in reference to it.  The shirt was a black t-shirt with “No Fat Chicks” written in large letters across the front.  What could possibly go wrong?

Club Stalwart Farmer, knocking back a tin while working on the Tan in the famous Darwin 199 Tour - chek the gallery for more pics...

On Sunday 25th July, former Dragons (and one still presently playing) gathered at the MCG as special guests for the Melbourne FC Coterie Group luncheon held in the Jim Stynes Room. While Melbourne blew Sydney off the park, much intrigue surrounded the gathered international footballers.

The luncheon hosted 140 guests. When the Dragons were introduced, a hearty Melbourneske round of applause 'if you don't mind old chum  - well done olde boy - hurahh' welcomed them. As international footballers, the Dragons all took the attention and kudos in their stride.

Club founder Ray Wood and former Dragon Bruce Brown organised the gathering. Woody even managed to dig out  the Fosters Cup won by the Dragons on the 6th June, 1998 against Saigon. This prompted many interested punters at the luncheon to inquire about the 'myth of the Dragon.' Woody was all too happy to endear those who were in his presence with Dragon related tales. While the author of this article recalls listening about certain heroics of the said game, the Carlton Draught took its toll by mid-arvo, hence I'm unable to elaborate any specifics. By all reports Glen Fleisher, Colin Reid, Bruce Brown, Garth Mc Lardie, and John Thompson represented the Dragons jumper with aplomb.

Woody certainly had many tales to tell, another relating to kicking drop kicks against rather ordinary opposition. Perhaps best I retell that snippet another time...........

Gathered on table 10 were members of the now famed (apologies Farm but it can't be 'Farmed' as you weren't at the 2007 Champs) 2007 Asian Champs winning side. In conjunction to Tony Tere and Dale Cooney were several 2007 Asian Championship players; Matty 'I'm Hard' Campbell, Nathan 'Light Me' Byrne, Paul 'The Falcon' Mallia, Chris 'Angry Man' Nicolay and Shannon 'Shags' Morgan. They reminissed about that drawn Grand Final that went  into extra time, with the Dragons finishing the stronger unit against the Bali Gekos by 17 points. Byrnesy was rather emotional (again), reliving some of those special moments.

As the afternoon wore on, much interest surrounded what Garth Mc Lardie had to say about how the Dragons club song came into fruition. Watch this space for an interview with Garth in the coming weeks.

At the conclusion of the function, the Dragons left behind many new admirers and proceeded to stagger across Punt Road to sample some beers at some of the more iconic post football watering holes. Unfortunately, the security staff took one look at the elder Dragon contingent and entry was duly denied.

The Dragons then managed to talk their way into the trendy Precint Hotel - Bridge Road, somehow convincing a flat-nosed bouncer with pursed lips and a kiwi accent to set aside his dislike for international AFL stars and lower the drawbridge to amber fluid heaven.

Special thanks to Ray Wood and Bruce Brown for organising this memorable event. Quite a number of Dragons travelled vast distances to attend this reunion which in itself highlights the strong ties the club has, be it for present and or past players.

I'm already looking forward to the 2011 Dragons Reunion.

If you're interested in attending this event next year, please contact president@hk-dragons.com.

Paul Mallia