A couple of weeks from the Dragons pre-season kickoff, Hammer shot with Frank Drmic, Jacob Holmes, Matt Shanahan and Joe Ingles.

"I came down here because I wanted to do something that no other team has ever done before,” Heal told The Age’s Renee Switzer.

“I think every team that goes into the season has dreams of being able to win it. Whether that's realistic or not, I don't think we'll really know for some time, but I think with the Australian content we've got, it's really exciting."

"It's a big risk and I think that's what makes it attractive," Heal said. "The number of people that know it's a risk and probably the small percentage that there is to succeed — I'm excited by that.

Heal says the form of the Dragons import pickups (Todd Fuller and Christian Anderon) will be pivotal to the success of the club.

"We will need two very good Americans to be able to push us to a top-four spot. If we don't have two good Americans, we could be bottom four. It's as simple as that."

Heal acknowledged the pressure would be on him to bring the club success.

"If I don't play well, I know a lot will be pointed at me … but then you take that on the chin and that's part of life. I've failed before, so it's not like I'll be afraid if it happens again, but, at the same time, I've got a belief that we'll be OK."

Heal expects the Dragons to have a parochial fan base.

"I think we'll be everybody else's team — almost like when Collingwood are playing when there are the Collingwood supporters and everybody else barracking against them."