19. Ben Dixon (Retired player end 2007 season)

[philhawk]

According to the My Man Thread (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=291068), it looks like Hawkers will be one of the posters responsible for looking after Dicko for us this season.

Take it away, Hawkers!

[RustyHawk]

Hawks' Dixon calls it quits
September 18, 2007 - 6:53PM

Age and a weary body have finally caught up with Hawthorn forward Ben Dixon, who has announced his retirement.

The 30-year-old leaves the game with 282 goals from 203 games, all with the Hawks, where he made his AFL debut in round five, 1997.

Although mentally strong, a persistent knee problem forced Dixon to concede his career was over.

"Mentally I could have gone on (playing), but I have had a problem with my knee for the last four to give years and it's getting to a point where I am unable to manage it as well as I would like," Dixon said in a statement released by the club.

Speaking before last week's semi-final loss to the Kangaroos, Dixon conceded retirement had played heavily on his mind this season, especially given his "pretty worn" knee.

"I think about it all the time. Who wouldn't when they get to 30 and when the body sort of starts to wear a bit," Dixon said at the time.

"It's a bit like your car. You take your tyres in, what do you get, 50,000 (kilometres) out of your tyres? I've got about 90,000 out of my legs."

While he leaves the game without a premiership, Dixon is among a select group of players who have kicked a game-winning goal after the siren.

His effort came against Carlton in round 17, 2001 - the year Hawthorn made the preliminary final - when his fourth goal of the game put the Hawks three points in front.

Coach Alastair Clarkson said Dixon had been a "wonderful servant" of the club.

"He has been a tremendous leader and mentor to our players, particularly the forwards, and there are a number of quality traits our young players have learnt and will take from playing alongside 'Dicko'," Clarkson said.

Dixon played his 200th game this year and was awarded life membership at Hawthorn in 2005.

© 2007 AAP

[RustyHawk]

Dixon hints the end is near
2:43 PM Tue 11 September, 2007 | Back

By Ben Broad,

Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network

News
HAWTHORN veteran Ben Dixon will try to squeeze out every ounce of his energy for the remainder of the club’s finals campaign, as he knows that each time he takes the field may well be his last.

While the 30-year-old hopes to continue playing next season, the Hawk forward knows time is catching up with him.

Likening his once injury-free body to a car, Dixon said he knew he had probably expended most of what he could but was enjoying his team’s ride so much he would buckle up and attempt to keep the engine running a little longer.

“It’s a bit like your car, you take your tyres in … what do you get 50,000(km) out of your tyres?” Dixon said.

“I think I’ve got about 90,000 out of my legs, so I’ll try to squeeze an extra 10,000 out of them.

“It’s pretty worn, my knee and that sort of thing. I will make the decision at the end of the year.”

Asked if 2007 may in fact be his swansong to AFL football and if he could follow skipper Richie Vandenberg into retirement, Dixon offered: “Yeah definitely, definitely … so I just want to make every post a winner.”

Dixon said seeing the Hawthorn captain make his announcement last week had stirred some strong feelings.

“It’s pretty emotional,” Dixon said.

“I think about it (retirement) all the time.

“Who wouldn’t when they get to sort of 30 and when the body sort of starts to wear a bit?”

Dixon said he would enjoy the Hawks’ finals campaign before talking to the club’s medical staff and assessing his future.

“As I said a few weeks ago, I’ve got to try and convince the docs that I can keep going,” he said.

“I don’t want to make a decision now, I want to wait until the end of the year and try to enjoy it for the rest of the year.”

[RustyHawk]

Dixon and Smith face life after football
6:06 PM Tue 9 October, 2007 | Back

By Catherine Murphy,

for hawthornfc.com.au

News
WHILE the Hawthorn best and fairest was a night of joy for players and supporters after an exciting year for the club, it was tinged with sadness for the players who are hanging up their boots.
Retired captain Richie Vandenberg was absent due to his brother’s wedding, but fellow retirees Ben Dixon and Joel Smith spoke of their feelings about life after football.

Dixon, who has been suffering with an ongoing knee injury for the last four years, admitted that one of the most difficult things was telling his parents that his football days were coming to an end.

“I said to mum and dad ‘I might retire’,” he said.

“Dad, who played league level and knows what it’s like said, ‘Yes, it’s a good decision, your body’s not up to it’. Mum said, ‘Is there not some way you can just keep going?’ I said ‘No, not unless they put a wooden leg on me and it works pretty well’,” he laughed.

The 30-year-old said that he hopes to remain connected to the club, which he regards as “his second family”.

“Although I’m retiring I’m certainly not leaving, because I love the club and I still want to be involved. Whether that’s going to the footy and watching, but I want to be involved.”

Dixon also thanked former Hawks great Jason Dunstall for his support.

“Bung’s been a great sounding board for me whenever I’ve been in trouble or I’m a bit rattled and need advice. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad but I love the way he delivers it; he’s very honest.”

Hawks star Shane Crawford paid tribute to Dixon who said he was the ultimate “team man”.

“If you ask any of his teammates, he’s extremely highly respected and he’s going to be sorely missed. Hopefully we can get him involved in the club,” Crawford said.

Joel Smith, whose family is involved in the thoroughbred horse industry, admitted that retiring from the game wasn’t going to be easy.

“I suppose the hardest thing about retiring is the realisation that the dream is over,” he said.

“Life after football will be scary because it’s all I’ve ever done, but at the same time it’s exciting because at the end of the day there’s more to life than footy.”