The year was 1993, the Dragons entered the finals race and triumphed over the Bulldogs 27-12, all that was left now was to make history once more in the 1993 Grand Final against the Broncos.
Whether it was coincidence or pure destiny, Dylan Presbury was born that same year into a die-hard Manly family, he joked that his trajectory to becoming a Manly supporter shifted at birth because of that 1993 Grand Final.
Not only did that Grand Final have such a profound impact on Dylan’s life but so did his uncle, the lone-wolf Dragons supporter of the family, who significantly influenced his path on continuing to be a passionate Dragons fan.
Dylan recalls watching and attending many Dragons games with his dearest uncle, he remembers the wins and losses like it was yesterday and cherishes those memories and moments close to his heart.
Watching the games and seeing the Dragons play when I was young inspired me to take up rugby league, I played for the Penrith Panthers rep football team and hoped to make myself a Dragon one day.
One of the standout moments for Dylan was the Dragons vs Manly game in 2004, an epic game where Dragons were trailing 34-10 but came back to win 36-34 with in the last nailing biting 15 minutes of the game! It was a remarkable comeback and remains one of the greatest victories in NRL history but also the greatest victory for Dylan, as it won him bragging rights over his Manly-supporting family.
Years passed and his focus on football changed, more importantly raising a family of six was his main priority - Dylan admittedly knows he missed a couple of years on his membership and game attendance for him was personally at an all-time low. However, this never stopped him cheering on his favourite team from the comfort of his own home and in doing so he proudly boasted:
I even corrupted the kids to also become Dragon’s supporters as well, they had no choice!.
Dylan is now happy to be back in the stands cheering on his favourite team, attending majority of the games, and committed to travelling more than 2 hours to and from both stadiums. He notably mentioned he loves the atmosphere and community that supports the organisation, he is a true optimist and whole heartedly believes the current roster is more than capable in getting the job done –hard to not disagree.
The team of current give 100% on the field, and the community backing the team is a big factor in helping them perform at their best.
We thank you Dylan for your continual dedication and passion for the Dragons!
We have awarded him the Red V Member of the Match during our Round 9 home game at WIN Stadium on Sunday 30th April vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Know a passionate Red V member? Or perhaps you think of yourself as the biggest and boldest Dragon’s fan? Get your nominations in now!
Click here to nominate a Red V Member of the Match!
Be in that number for 2023 and become a Red V member today. For more information on Red V membership, please visit: dragons.com.au/membership
