Dragons celebrate season
Drouin Dragons Soccer Club completed a successful season in 2022 with an increase in player numbers, three league championships, three grand final winners and 10 teams reaching the Gippsland Soccer League finals.
League championship winners were the reserves, U17 mixed and the U14s while the reserves, U14s and U12 teams won their respective grand finals.
The reserves took out the clean sweep winning the Battle of Baw Baw Trophy, league champions, grand final and leading goal scorer for the Gippsland Soccer League.
Post-COVID saw quite a few players not return in 2022, however there was an overall increase in numbers with 120 new players registered for the club in 2022. Club registrations and teams for 2022 included 120 MiniRoos, three U12 teams, two U14 teams, an U17 girls team and an U17 mixed team, a reserves, women and a senior men's team.
The club is expecting another increase in player numbers in 2023 with the new $3 million pavilion scheduled to open towards the end of the season. Club president Jason Beer talked about how great it was to be a part of the club.
"It's an exciting time to play and be involved at the Drouin Dragons, especially the increased number of families joining our club and the new facilities such as game standard pitch lighting, carpark and pavilion that both Baw Baw Shire Council and the Victorian Government have funded," he said.
An expression of interest form for 2023 is available on the club's website www.drouindragonssc.com.au.
"Early planning (projected player numbers) in the off season is critical to ensure we have enough coaches in place for when preseason commences in February. Early player projections indicate we could have four U12 teams and three U14 teams in 2023 which will be challenging for our volunteers, coaches and available pitches for both training and games," Jason went on to say.