Dandenong junior Frank Drmic will return to where his professional basketball career began - in Melbourne - this season with Victoria's newest club, the South Dragons.

Drmic, who last represented a Victorian-based NBL side in 2000, (with the Brian Goorjian-coached Victoria Titans) has spent the last three seasons in Europe, and has begun the road back to the NBL via the Queensland state league.

Playing for the Southern Spartans, Drmic has top-scored in both outings this season, under veteran coach Bruce Palmer.

"Coach (Bruce) Palmer has allowed me to play a number of roles, which is good for my practice," Drmic told southdragons.com.

"I've done a little bit of ball carrying, some post work and so far it's all coming together nicely," addd Drmic, who's managed 64 points in the opening two rounds of the QABL to lead all scorers.

"The aim in playing for this league in the off-season is to get some touch back, and work on my general conditioning."

Drmic is expected to move South in the coming weeks to begin individual conditioning sessions with Dragons strength coach Bruce Gray.

Keeping in regular contact with Captain Shane Heal, Drmic believes the Dragons are capable of shaking things up in the Philips Championship NBL.

"We've got an awesome list, young guys like Adam Quick and Joe Ingles who're capable of great things right through to veterans like Shane Heal and Matt Shanahan who have championship experience, and know what it takes to win.

"With the imports I'm sure Mark Price is capable of attracting, the belief amongst the player group is that we've got a list capable of going all the way.”

The Southern Districts Spartans play the South West Metro Fileforce Pirates at Rowland Cowan Stadium this Saturday, 7:30pm.

	Frank Drmic #11 Height: 203cm Weight: 88kg Position: Forward Date of birth: 07.02.1978 in Melbourne, VictoriaJunior Association: Dandenong NBL Championships: 1996 (South East Melbourne Magic)
Career notes: Played in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 NBL Grand Finals... All-NBL third team 1998.... NBL Future Forces game 1996-97... Runner-up NBL best sixth man 1997... Third in NBL Most Improved Player in 1998... Attended AIS 1994 and 1995... won a gold medal with Australia at the Under 23 World Championships in 1997... played for Australia at the junior World Championships in 1995.

>> Clippings file

Drmic looks to make his mark
By Stephen Howell, The Age
April 9, 2006

FRANK DRMIC was a very good basketballer and should be again. But he is no Andrew Gaze. In fact, in talking of his return to the National Basketball League next season as a player with South Dragons, he said of claims a decade ago that he would be the next Gaze: "I wish that never happened." >> read entire article