AFL world in mourning after death of much-loved Melbourne great Brian Dixon
Dixon will go down as one of the Demons' greatest ever.
The star wingman played 252 games for the club, including five premierships during their golden era in the 1950s and 60s.
He won the club best and fairest in 1960 and was named on the wing in the team of the century.
When he retired at the end of 1968, Dixon was then Melbourne's games record holder and still sits eighth on the all-time list.
Dixon also spent two years as coach of North Melbourne (1971-72), but managed just six wins.
He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Dixon also enjoyed a successful stint in politics, including being the architect behind the iconic 'Life. Be in it' campaign in Victoria.
Melbourne president Brad Green paid tribute to the club great.
'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.
'He was a five-time premiership player, a life member, a Hall of Fame inductee, and was honoured in the Australian Football Hall of Fame, recognition reserved for the very best our game has seen.
'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 in the years that followed.
'On behalf of everyone at the Melbourne Football Club, I want to extend our condolences to his wife Carmel, and to Brian's family and friends.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Harry Edwards hopes to emulate Jemermy McGovern's legacy as West Coast remain under siege
Powered by Jeremy McGovern's 'seeds of wisdom', Harry Edwards is confident he can hold down West Coast's key defensive post for years to come alongside partner in crime Reuben Ginbey. Tom Barrass's move to Hawthorn at the end of last year and McGovern's concussion-forced retirement last month means Edwards is now 'the man' in West Coast's besieged defence. The 24-year-old has notched just 52 AFL games since being taken as a rookie in 2017 and there were doubts whether he could become the team's go-to key defender when a poor start to the year resulted in him being dropped. But Edwards returned with a bang in round nine, playing every game since then and excelling in the role of key backman. Edwards will be back in action on Sunday when West Coast face Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, with key forwards Mitch Georgiades and Ollie Lord lying in wait. 'I had a bit of a shaky start to the year and went back to WAFL to work on a few things,' Edwards said. 'I needed to improve some of my positioning and contest stuff, which is my one wood. 'It's always a tough role playing the deepest back on big forwards in a developing side. 'But I feel like I've taken some good steps this year and I can be that guy for the Eagles for years to come.' Another player to have excelled in defence this year has been Ginbey, who often mans key forwards who are bigger and taller than him. 'Bloody hell, I love Reuben. He's a superstar,' Edwards said. 'I love playing with him. He can play on talls. He can play on smalls. I couldn't speak higher of him.' Edwards said defence coach Luke Webster and former West Coast captain Shannon Hurn had played pivotal roles in his progress. He also lavished praise on five-time All-Australian McGovern, who is regarded as one of the best AFL defenders of all time. 'He's a good mate of mine,' Edwards said. 'He drops seeds of wisdom here and there for me. 'He's probably the best defender in the modern era, so to be able to take things from his game and have him teach me stuff over the course of my journey has been invaluable.' Port Adelaide (7-9) lost Esava Ratugolea, Sam Powell-Pepper and Dante Visentini to season-ending injuries in last week's 28-point loss to Brisbane. West Coast, who are aiming to celebrate Jamie Cripps' 250th game for the Eagles with a win, axed Tim Kelly, Sandy Brock, Bo Allan and Jack Williams. Tom Cole, Matt Owies, Tyrell Dewar and fit-again defender Rhett Bazzo, who has played just one AFL match since the start of 2024, come into the side.
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Australia strongly considers dumping Nathan Lyon for pink-ball Test against West Indies
Australia is on the verge of dropping a bombshell axe on veteran spinner Nathan Lyon for the third Test in Kingston . The wicket at Sabina Park has been described as grassy and 'greenish', and Aussie selectors are considering an extra seam bowler for the pink-ball Test. Pacemen Scott Boland or Sean Abbott could come into the Aussie XI, or Josh Inglis could be called on to strengthen the batting line-up which would mean allrounder Beau Webster would be used as the fourth bowler. The Test begins on Sunday morning (AEST), and, hours out from the first ball, captain Pat Cummins has refused to shed light on the fabric of team when facing media. '(We're) trying to still get our heads around exactly what (the pink ball is) going to do,' Cummins said. 'We've had two sessions here again see how the pitch looks. 'You know, (we're) still 30 or 24 hours out, so yeah, really just trying to get our heads around it and kind of have another day to think about it.' Pressed on whether the 37-year-old Lyon would be dumped, Cummins said it was certainly an option. 'I think everything's an option, so yeah, we haven't settled,' he said. The looming decision comes not long after Lyon called time on his role as the Australian 'songmaster' (the conductor of the victory song). Ahead of the second Test in the West Indies, Lyon handed over the songmaster duties to Alex Carey, but insisted it was not his first step to retirement. 'It definitely doesn't mean I'm retiring anytime soon,' he said. 'It's more about the team environment, making sure that I get the opportunity to pass it on to someone who I look at and absolutely love in the way he goes about it on and off the field and I just feel like Alex is the perfect candidate. 'I ran my race with it, and it's time for someone else to put their touch on it.' Lyon said he believed Carey — who was the stand-in songmaster in 2023 when Lyon was injured during the Ashes — was the ideal candidate. And Carey will follow in the footsteps of other champion wicket-keepers and spiritual leaders such as Rod Marsh and Ian Healy. Greats such as Allan Border, Ricky Ponting, and Justin Langer have also held the role. 'I've always said I want to win away in India. I want to win away in England,' Lyon said at the time. 'We've got that opportunity in a couple of years' time, but we've also got to take it Test by Test and make sure that we're doing everything here in West Indies right. 'Then we've got a massive summer at home with the Ashes. 'But another World Test Championship final would be on my cards for sure.'
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Australia on the verge of dropping Test bombshell
Australia is on the verge of dropping a bombshell axe on veteran spinner Nathan Lyon for the third Test in Kingston. The wicket at Sabina Park has been described as grassy and 'greenish', and Aussie selectors are considering an extra seam bowler for the pink-ball Test. Pacemen Scott Boland or Sean Abbott could come into the Aussie XI, or Josh Inglis could be called on to strengthen the batting line-up which would mean allrounder Beau Webster would be used as the fourth bowler. The Test begins on Sunday morning (AEST), and, hours out from the first ball, captain Pat Cummins has refused to shed light on the fabric of team when facing media. '(We're) trying to still get our heads around exactly what (the pink ball is) going to do,' Cummins said. 'We've had two sessions here again see how the pitch looks. 'You know, (we're) still 30 or 24 hours out, so yeah, really just trying to get our heads around it and kind of have another day to think about it.' Nathan Lyon could be dropped for the pink-ball Test. Credit: Getty Images Pressed on whether the 37-year-old Lyon would be dumped, Cummins said it was certainly an option. 'I think everything's an option, so yeah, we haven't settled,' he said. The looming decision comes not long after Lyon called time on his role as the Australian 'songmaster' (the conductor of the victory song). Ahead of the second Test in the West Indies, Lyon handed over the songmaster duties to Alex Carey, but insisted it was not his first step to retirement. 'It definitely doesn't mean I'm retiring anytime soon,' he said. 'It's more about the team environment, making sure that I get the opportunity to pass it on to someone who I look at and absolutely love in the way he goes about it on and off the field and I just feel like Alex is the perfect candidate. 'I ran my race with it, and it's time for someone else to put their touch on it.' Lyon said he believed Carey — who was the stand-in songmaster in 2023 when Lyon was injured during the Ashes — was the ideal candidate. The history of Australia's song-master. Credit: 7Cricket And Carey will follow in the footsteps of other champion wicket-keepers and spiritual leaders such as Rod Marsh and Ian Healy. Greats such as Allan Border, Ricky Ponting, and Justin Langer have also held the role. 'I've always said I want to win away in India. I want to win away in England,' Lyon said at the time. 'We've got that opportunity in a couple of years' time, but we've also got to take it Test by Test and make sure that we're doing everything here in West Indies right. 'Then we've got a massive summer at home with the Ashes. 'But another World Test Championship final would be on my cards for sure.'
