Follow along every Tuesday, as we celebrate Hawthorn champions, past and present...
A bargain pick with the 77th selection in the 1994 draft, it wasn’t until Round 5, 1997 against the Sydney Swans that Ben Dixon would make his first AFL appearance, donning the number 32.
Despite registering just a single disposal in that game, Dixon soon showed his wares as a skilful and strong marking half forward with two bags of three goals in his first season against the Bombers and Brisbane Lions.
The following year saw the then 20-year-old take massive strides forward, playing all bar one game to finish the season with 36 goals, including a career-best performance of six majors against West Coast that he would only ever match on one other occasion.
Restricted to 16 matches in 1999, Dixon bounced back to have arguably his career-best season in 2000 as the Hawks reached the finals for this first time in four years, with Dixon kicking two goals in an Elimination-final win over Geelong, before going down to the Kangaroos the following week.
Catch up: Champion Tuesday: Rodney Eade
2001 saw the Hawks go even further, falling just shy of a grand final appearance, as the Yarrawonga product played a key role with 37 goals, including an unforgettable moment against Carlton in Round 17.
Having kicked five majors against Collingwood the week before, Dixon had already booted three goals for the Hawks as they found themselves three points down late in the last quarter.
With only seconds remaining, Daniel Chick sent a long ball deep inside the Hawks’ forward 50 with Dixon holding on to the crucial contested mark before going back and slotting a goal after the siren to hand the Hawks a thrilling victory.
The number 19’s next best season came with an impressive 2006 campaign, playing all 22 games for a return of 39 goals before calling time on his career 12 months later citing a deteriorating knee injury.
A life member of the football club, Dixon helped lead the Hawks back to finals after a six-year hiatus and bowed out of the game alongside teammates Richie Vandenberg and Joel Smith, finishing with 282 goals from 203 games in the brown gold.
Best Performance
14 disposals, six goals, five marks v West Coast Round 12 1998
Best Venue
MCG – played 76 games, averaged 10.78 disposals, kicked 129 goals
Best Opponent
Essendon – met 15 times, averaged 12.13 disposals and 4.8 marks, kicked 29 goals
