World Footy News

For the past four seasons in the Middle East, the Dubai Dragons have been the “Kings” of an otherwise arid jungle. Last year the club won their third flag, making them the league’s most successful club. Their tally saw them pass foundation club the Dubai Heat.

Whilst the off season has been a time for the Dragons to savour the joys of success, it has also been a time where other potential dynasties have been plotting the downfall of the Dragons.

Last year’s runners-up, the BM Bulls, might be the newest club to the league, introduced just last year, but they reached the grand final and lost. They are young but they are hungry and have used their contests with the Dragons as a measuring stick. They will be keen to avenge last year’s loss and have recruited well enough over the off season to bring about change.
The Doha Kangaroos have long memories. They beat the Dragons two seasons ago and know how to do it again. One thing that comes from grand final clashes is a long term rivalry, and the Doha team is itching for another crack at the Dragons.

The Dubai Dingoes have stood by and watched their Dubai stablemate’s success and are, quite rightly, fed up with being Dubai’s bridesmaid. They too will want to bring down the Dragon’s dynasty, starting this season.

Abu Dhabi Falcons are quietly watching the three Dubai-based teams knowing that they, too, are capable of bigger things. An improved team last year, and with a flag under their belts, the Falcons will be keen to teach their United Arab Emirates fellow clubs a thing or two.

Like the Roman, Byzantine and Persian empires which eventually fell, albeit on grander scales and over far greater lengths of time, and with so many other differences that it is a very tenuous analogy, the Dubai Dragons face their own decline at some stage. Maybe not for long, but one only needs ask the Brisbane Lions, Geelong or Hawthorn (specifically the 1970’s to 1990’s) about the permanency of an empire.

Dubai Dragons president, Huwy Jones, is acutely aware of the challenges facing the club this season. His analysis of the club’s list turnover since March when they took the flag is interesting.

“As far as the Dragons are concerned, we have a bit of turnover in the list this year. A few old boys are retiring and leaving Dubai, but an influx of new players should help us stay competitive.

“Of those leaving there is Ryan Lewis – a premiership player returning to Australia to run the Walwa Caravan Park in country New South Wales. I have retired and Jeremy 'Spanish' Onions , a two-time premiership player who suffered an ACL in last year’s Grand Final win is retiring to get married.”

“New arrivals include Brian Harrington from Singapore Wombats, a small forward, Eddie Betts like. We also have Dalton Tuck from the Broadbeach Cats, a 6 foot 8 ruckman.”

“Luke Donald is from Golden Square Football Club in Bendigo and is a nuggety back-pocket. Duncan Wilkie from the Munich Kangaroos is returning from broken leg and Xavier 'Junior' Berger from the Bordeaux Bombers in France is new to football.”

It will be an interesting season as the Dubai Dragons will go from being the hunter to the hunted and it remains to be seen if they have the goods to remain kings.




Left: Dubai Dragons - the hunted?