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Melbourne and the football world are mourning the passing of Demons great and former government minister Brian Dixon. He was 89.
Dixon was a star in Melbourne’s dominant Norm Smith era, in which he played in the 1956-57, 1959-60 and 1964 flags.
A skillful and attacking wingman, he held the Demons games record with 252 until he was surpassed by Robert Flower in 1987.
Former Melbourne champion Brian Dixon.Credit: Paul Rovere
Dixon, who was a minister in the Hamer Government and the member for the seat of St Kilda, coached North Melbourne in 1971-72 before Ron Barassi. He was credited with being one of the architects of the Life Be In It health campaign which encouraged people to be active.
Arguably one of his greatest contributions to the Demons was in finding the wealthy mining magnate Joseph Gutnick, who became a white knight for the club after the failed merger attempt with Hawthorn in 1996.
Gutnick served as president from that point until 2001 and provided financial backing for the impecunious Demons.
Melbourne supporters at an anti-merger meeting. Brian Dixon and Joseph Gutnick (right) are pictured at the front. Credit: Vince Caliguiri
Dixon is in the Australian Football Hall of Fame and represented Victoria 10 times.
Melbourne president Brad Green paid tribute to the champion player for his record and his “connection to the club in the years that followed”.
“Brian was a great of our club and someone who has left a lasting mark, not just on Melbourne, but on the game as a whole,” Green said.
“Brian’s football achievements speak for themselves, but his love for the club was just as significant. He was proud of our history, and helped shape it, both through his on the field success and his connection to the club.”
