Brian Dixon (Australian footballer)

Brian James Dixon (20 May 1936 – 9 July 2025) was an Australian rules footballer and politician.^[1] He was born in Melbourne.^[2]

The Honourable Brian Dixon
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for St Kilda
In office 1964–1982
Preceded by	Baron Snider
Succeeded by	Andrew McCutcheon
Personal details
Born	(1936-05-20)20 May 1936 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died	9 July 2025(2025-07-09) (aged 89)
Political party	Liberal
Australian rules football career Personal information Original team(s) Melbourne High School Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) Weight 70 kg (154 lb) Position(s) Wing Playing career Years Club Games (Goals) 1954–1968 Melbourne 252 (41) Coaching career Years Club Games (W–L–D) 1971–1972 North Melbourne 44 (6–37–1) Career highlights Club 5× VFL premierships: 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964 Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medallist: 1960 Melbourne Team of the Century–Wing Melbourne Hall of Fame Overall Australian Football Hall of Fame All-Australian: 1961 Tassie Medallist: 1961 Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Football career

Dixon played 252 games for Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1954 and 1968, playing mostly on the wing. He played in five premierships, winning Melbourne's best and fairest in 1960, while in 1961 he was selected in the All-Australian team and he also won the Tassie Medal for his performances at the 1961 Brisbane Carnival. In 2000 he was named in Melbourne's Team of the Century.

He coached North Melbourne for two seasons, 1971 and 1972.

Political career

While still playing football for Melbourne, Dixon entered parliament in 1964 as the member for the now abolished seat of St Kilda, representing the Liberal Party.^[3] Being from the moderate wing of the party, he clashed with then Premier Henry Bolte, especially over the hanging of Ronald Ryan which Dixon strongly opposed.^[4]

After Rupert Hamer took over as Liberal Party leader and Premier, Dixon was promoted to the ministry. He variously served in several portfolios, including Youth, Sport and Recreation and Housing. His best-remembered achievement was introducing the iconic Life. Be in it. program.^[5]

In 1979, Dixon won St Kilda by an extremely narrow margin, which crucially gave the Hamer Liberal government a majority of one seat in the Legislative Assembly, and meant that the Liberal Party did not need to form a Coalition with the National Party, with which relations were traditionally poor in Victoria. However, in 1982, Dixon lost his seat and the Liberal Party was defeated after 27 years in power.

After his defeat, Dixon worked predominantly in sports administration and he ran public speaking seminars.

He travelled the world representing the Trim and Fitness International Sport for All Association (TAFISA) and the Asiania Sport For All Association (ASFAA). He was also president of AFL South Africa, taking a keen interest in other countries playing Australian rules football.^[6]

Death

Dixon died on 9 July 2025, at the age of 89.^[7][8]

Statistics

Playing statistics

^[9]

Legend

G	Goals	K	Kicks	D	Disposals	T	Tackles
B	Behinds	H	Handballs	M	Marks

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
1954	Melbourne	9	8	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.3	—	—	—	—	—	—
1955	Melbourne	9	16	7	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.4	—	—	—	—	—	—
1956#	Melbourne	9	17	5	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.3	—	—	—	—	—	—
1957#	Melbourne	9	21	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.1	—	—	—	—	—	—
1958	Melbourne	9,16	20	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.1	—	—	—	—	—	—
1959#	Melbourne	9	20	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.1	—	—	—	—	—	—
1960#	Melbourne	9	20	4	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.2	—	—	—	—	—	—
1961	Melbourne	9	16	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.1	—	—	—	—	—	—
1962	Melbourne	9	18	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.1	—	—	—	—	—	—
1963	Melbourne	9	18	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.2	—	—	—	—	—	—
1964#	Melbourne	9	17	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	0.1	—	—	—	—	—	—
1965	Melbourne	9	13	1	2	260	23	283	78	—	0.1	0.2	20.0	1.8	21.8	6.0	—
1966	Melbourne	9	11	0	3	222	20	242	48	—	0.0	0.3	20.2	1.8	22.0	4.4	—
1967	Melbourne	9	18	6	6	357	56	413	77	—	0.3	0.3	19.8	3.1	22.9	4.3	—
1968	Melbourne	9	19	2	1	395	51	446	123	—	0.1	0.1	20.8	2.7	23.5	6.5	—
Career			252	41	12	1234	150	1384	326	—	0.2	0.2	20.2	2.5	22.7	5.3	—

Coaching statistics

^[10]

Legend
W	Wins	L	Losses	D	Draws	W%	Winning percentage	LP	Ladder position	LT	League teams

Season	Team	Games	W	L	D	W %	LP	LT
1971	North Melbourne	22	5	16	1	25.0%	9	12
1972	North Melbourne	22	1	21	0	4.5%	12	12
Career totals		44	6	37	1	14.8%