Known as Sticky Fingers, Brian Dixon could catch a greased eel in a blizzard. Probably the best mark of anyone in his era.

He gave a speech at our high school. In it, he said an opponent asked him why he was on the left hand side of the ground when he was a right-winger.

RIP Brian.

3 hours ago, Fanatique Demon said:

Known as Sticky Fingers, Brian Dixon could catch a greased eel in a blizzard. Probably the best mark of anyone in his era.

I remember reading in a footy book that he used to spend his lunch and recess breaks at school squeezing a tennis ball (might have been a squash ball?) in each hand to make his grip stronger. The other kids mocked him for it, but you'd have to say that it had the desired result.

3 hours ago, Fanatique Demon said:

Known as Sticky Fingers, Brian Dixon could catch a greased eel in a blizzard. Probably the best mark of anyone in his era.

He gave a speech at our high school. In it, he said an opponent asked him why he was on the left hand side of the ground when he was a right-winger.

RIP Brian.

Think you are stretching things a bit here FD.

He had long arms like Robbie & was certainly a very good mark for his size but no way was he the best mark of his era.

Never saw him play but met him a couple of times at club functions. He was a great man who loved to chat footy.

His No Merger stance really resonated with me. Must’ve been hard for him as I think it strained more than a few relationships in his life.

Vale.

17 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

Lead the no-merger rear guard with Alan Johnson

I'm too young to have seen Dixon play, but will forever be grateful for his anti-merger advocacy during a period where so many players and ex-players were pro-merger.

I think we underestimate just what a profound, overwhelmingly negative, effect the merger attempt had on this club. And while we can pretend that it was, in fact, just a sneaky takeover, the truth is there would be no more Melbourne Demons without resistance from people like Dixon, Flower and Alan Johnson (and of course the many no voices at Hawthorn).

I know footy players had a lot less to do back in the day, but by modern standards it's insane that he was elected to Parliament while still playing and did double duty as MP/coach of North for two years.

Not sure if a fun fact is appropriate under the circumstances, but in 1967 he was re-elected as member for St Kilda and played in a win over St Kilda on the same day.

1 hour ago, Cranky Franky said:

Think you are stretching things a bit here FD.

He had long arms like Robbie & was certainly a very good mark for his size but no way was he the best mark of his era.

Saw him play in most home games from 1962 till 1965

I believe that he possibly wasn’t a great High Mark

But certainly was almost never Out marked by an opponent one on one

1 hour ago, Cranky Franky said:

Think you are stretching things a bit here FD.

He had long arms like Robbie & was certainly a very good mark for his size but no way was he the best mark of his era.

I had no.9 on my Demons jumper as a schoolboy.

I’m forever grateful to him for standing up against his mate, Ridley, in the merger debate. He was as important as anyone in saving our club in 1996.

Recall seeing Brian Dixon playing in the twilight of his on field days resplendent in his long sleeved guernesy on the members wing in the depth of winter. Back then the MCG playing field was a lot heavier particularly with the Merri Creek wicket in the centre. No modern sports 'slippers' just high ankle boots with the leather studs. Brian's kicking action as mentioned in an earlier post was unorthodox but effective quickly on the boot downfield.

At the non-merger rally at the 'G years later. Brian introduced Jospeh Gutnick to the faithful and sang the full two verse version of 'It's a Grand Old Flag' with Geoff Tunbridge.

And a final family anecdote, my mother had a flat tyre one evening on St Kilda Road. Parliamentarian and all, he stopped got out his vehicle and assisted with putting on the spare tyre and getting her on her way. Old fashion Melbourne at its best. Vale Brian Dixon.

Edited July 12Jul 12 by Tarax Club

He was no doubt a great footballer - one of Melbourne's greatest ever, however his legacy as a politician is largely overlooked. He was a genuine "small l" Liberal politician and was one of the key drivers in the Hamer Government's push to modernise Melbourne and Victoria. He was Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation and most notably led the introduction of the Life. Be In it campaign, but as a cabinet minister in a moderate Government he worked to introduce stronger environmental protection laws, the abolition of the death penalty (he strongly opposed the execution of Ronald Ryan), the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the introduction of anti-discrimination laws. His contribution to the state was immense.