SUNSHINE Heights’ Michael Nicolaides is a clubman in every sense of the word.

The Dragons onballer quite simply loves his club, whether it is putting his hand up to be the club’s sponsorship co-ordinator in difficult financial times, taking on the role of vice-captain at just 22 years of age.

Nicolaides is constantly doing the hard yards for the battlers of the Western Region Football League (WRFL) Division One competition.

“My passion is the club,” he said. “I want to see the club succeed. I believe I can help make it succeed.”

Dragons’ coach Mick Grima highlighted Nicolaides’ importance to the club.

“You would not find a better bloke around a footy club,” he said. “Nothing is ever too much for him off the field.”

But Nicolaides’ dedication to the Dragons is more than just his off-field efforts, he has featured in the best four out of five games for his side this season with Grima saying he has been “been in our best two” for the first four rounds.

“As a player he is by far the hardest worker on the track,” the coach said. “He doesn’t leave anything to chance. He does his own training on top of what we do at the footy club.”

Nicolaides began his career at “Sunny Heights” as a junior racking up numerous club best and fairest awards including two competition best and fairest awards along the way.

After a preseason at VFL club Werribee in 2006 he was asked to join a WRFL Division One club to see if he could “handle the intensity.”

“I was a bit apprehensive to leave (Heights),” he said. “I needed to better my football. I went there (to St Albans) for a year, enjoyed it football-wise and I was able to mix it with the big boys.

“It was a valuable experience.”

But it did not work out at the Saints and so Nicolaides returned to his beloved Dragons and has not looked back since.

After playing a vital role in the club’s first ever Division Two premiership he is now relishing being back in the top competition.

“I love the speed and intensity of it (Division One). Having the credibility of a Divvy One team - I love it. We never give up. If we are 10 goals down the job is never over until the last siren goes.”

The “never say die attitude” attitude is handy when you are the new kid on the block in the top division with losses to the well established teams a steep learning curve in 2009.

But Nicolaides has a positive outlook.

“Our ground, out of all the teams in the Western Region, it best suits us. We have a small ground and we know how to play it. We could create some upsets. Personally, I feel fantastic. I can say this is the best I have felt all year. My fitness, my strength and skills, I am on top of it all.”

Grima said Nicolaides’ importance to the Dragons is underestimated by the opposition with the education student finishing in the top three in the best and fairest in the past three years.

“As a coach I wish I had about 10 of him. He might have a really good game and he is the first one on Monday morning to give me a call looking for some feedback - at this level he’s definitely as professional as you can get.”

A softly spoken but confident young man off the field, he brings the same qualities to his football, Grima said. “The opposition wouldn’t hear boo out of him and you never see him roughing anyone up or doing anything dirty but when it is his turn he will put his head over the ball and go a million miles an hour.”

The Dragons could not ask for anything more.

It was a tough day out for the Dragons in round five, going down to Spotswood by 130 points. Jye Orchard kicked six for the Woodsmen.

St Albans got its first win of the year with a 100-point thumping of West Footscray. Michael Spooner kicked eight goals to lead the Saints charge. Albion was too strong for Altona, with Shaydon Bloomfield booting four for the match.

Hoppers Crossing and Port Melbourne Colts played out a low scoring competitive clash with the Colts coming out on top by a goal. Steve McAnulty starred with six majors. Sunshine thumped Glen Orden with Ben Foley leading the charge kicking five goals.

In Division Two, Parkside beat Braybrook, Wyndham Vale Falcons got up by a goal against Coburg Districts, Deer Park beat North Footscray, Albanvale were too good for Laverton and Yarraville-Seddon thumped North Sunshine.