Australian Football Hall of Famer, former North Melbourne coach and Melbourne player Brian Dixon has died, aged 89.
In the dawn of a golden era for the club, Dixon coached the Kangaroos across 1971 and 1972, a position he held while also serving as a Victorian state minister.
At the helm, Dixon oversaw the debut of eventual two-time Brownlow Medallist Keith Greig and the early playing days of other Kangaroos legends such as David Dench and Arnold Briedis.
After the 1972 season, Dixon handed the reins to his former Melbourne teammate Ron Barassi, who would lead the Kangaroos to their first VFL premiership three years later.
As a player, Dixon made 252 appearances for the Demons from 1954 to 1968, kicking 41 goals.
He finished his career as a five-time VFL premiership player, All-Australian and a Melbourne best and fairest winner, and was named on the wing in the club’s Team of the Century in 2000.
In 1964, while still playing, Dixon was elected to the Victorian parliament as the Liberal member for St Kilda.
As a politician he served in a number of portfolios, including Youth, Sport and Recreation. Perhaps his most memorable contribution was the 'Life Be In it' campaign, which began in Victoria in his time as minister.
A tireless promoter of Australian football, he will be fondly remembered by many Demons fans for leading the opposition in 1996 to the club's plan to merge with Hawthorn.
