100 years of footy in Mudgee and 100 years of the Dragons. And yes we know they used to be called the Tigers.
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On Saturday the Mudgee Dragons are holding an event to celebrate 100 years of the team in the region, bringing old and new players, volunteers, friends and family together. The event will also serve as a season opener for the side.
Mudgee Dragons President Sebastian Flack said the night marks the beginning of the century celebrations.
"The main thing is we're going over the history of the club. We've got a 100-year book that we're launching and selling on the night, which will be a good memento and something reflect on the history of rugby league in town," he said.
"There's a big emphasis on the fact it's not just a Dragons event. It's a 'rugby league in town' event because they used to be the Mudgee Tigers."
Reflecting on the year that was 2020 - a year off from playing and other challenges for the team - Sebastian wanted to again call out to the volunteers that make the club what it is, allow it to survive and encourage anyone that wants to help the club to get in touch.
"Anyone interested in still seeing rugby league survive in the town - we rely solely on volunteers, not just players. If you burn the people out that are trying their best, then you're just going to - that's how bush clubs are dying," he said.
We don't have soft targets - I'm not really worried about what people think about us, that's our expectation we have on ourselves.
- Club President, Sebastian Flack
"There's a lot of people with opinions and not many people with solutions who are willing to help."
But what of the upcoming season? After a year off and a number of major shake ups in Group 10, Sebastian admitted it was a disruptive 12 months or so, but said the Dragons are taking this season as importantly as any other, if not more.
"I did an interview with the big sports breakfast, I got trounced on - being called cocky. I wasn't really happy with that. Because if you don't think you're gonna win the comp at the start of the year, like are you really having to go?" he said.
"You need to be confident in what you're doing as a club, and your coaches and the players that you're going to win because if you're not playing to win then you're just out there for a bit of a muck around and we are not there to muck around. I think we're going to go well in in all our grades.
"Numbers are a bit lean in Senior League Tag, but all the rest like 18s, Reserve Grade, especially Premier League, where we're expecting to take out the comp and we're doing everything that we can to win as many games as we can through the year.
"We don't have soft targets - I'm not really worried about what people think about us, that's our expectation we have on ourselves. And that's what we want everyone to expect of us as well.
The Mudgee Dragons will play their first game of the year at Jubilee Oval on April 24 against Cowra who does not have a first grade side in the comp this year.
"I just want to send out some recognition to the people within the committee. Through all this, we split it off to a couple of people to organise and they've done a fantastic job and I'd just like to thank the community for getting around us," Sebastian said.
"It should be a good weekend and I can't wait to see everyone."
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