There are many great family stories which can be associated with the reboot of the old Group 17 competition, and the Vearing family is just one of them.
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The family has had an association with the Dragons since the late 1920s, and that association has carried through to the ProTen Community Cup.
Jack Vearing who played in the winning grand final team of 1962 was able to do something he thought would never be possible as the Cup rolled into Rankins Springs and four of his grandkids ran out in the red and white.
“It was quite a proud moment for me,” he said.
“I didn’t think I would be able to watch that happen with not many younger boys able to hang around and play footy.
“To have three of my cousin's grandkids in the Parsons boys out there as well was really special.”
A lot has changed to the football ground that Jack ran around on most of it for the better.
“Back when I was playing we were basically running around on a paddock. I’ve never seen the field looking that good,” he said.
“It used to be a bit further to the west, but they moved it to where they used to have bike races a long time ago.”
“Now they just have to work out how to keep the kangaroos of it.”
The Dragons finished the regular season as minor premiers, and the football will return to the Springs this weekend as the final four sides including the Dragons fight for a grand final berth.
If Rankins Springs were able to get into the decider and lift the trophy, it would be the third generation of Vearing to lift a trophy in red and white.
