Daniel Harford at a recent Life Members gathering introduced me to a new term for a group of former Hawks, ‘Club 17’ … an affectionate name used by a group of players who gave their all for the Hawks in the 17 years between our 9th and 10th Premierships. The likes of Mark Graham, Luke McCabe, Rayden Tallis, Nick Holland, Ritchie Vandenberg, Angelo Lekas, Tony Woods including Joel Smith and Ben Dixon the subject of this story.
Staunch Hawk fan, Mark Haines recently contacted the museum with the very kind offer would we be interested in two framed guernseys. Two members of that informal group of players who refer to themselves as ‘Club 17’, Ben Dixon and Joel Smith wore the guernseys in question in their 100th AFL game. Mark Haines bought the guernseys at the Tribute Dinner for Shane Crawford and Mark Graham that was held at the Melbourne Park Function Centre on May 18, 2002.
The museum response was an immediate yes. The two guernseys would be a significant edition to the Club Collection. Both Ben Dixon and Joel Smith were very popular players with the fans and to have their guernseys from their 100th AFL games was a remarkable gesture from Mark Haines.
For the record
Ben Dixon, 1997-2007 played 203 games kicking 282 goals. He first wore Guernsey No 32, 1997-1998. When Club Legend Jason Dunstall retired at the close of the 1998 season, Dixon’s future potential saw him being presented with Dunstall’s No 19, which he wore from 1999-2007.
Recruited from Yarrawonga / Assumption College, Dixon was drafted in 1994, but was given a lengthy apprenticeship in the seconds and did not make his senior debut until round 5 against Sydney in 1997. By 1998 Dixon had established himself as a regular member of the senior team as a promising forward. When he kicked 6 goals in an Ansett Cup game in 1999 wearing Jason Dunstall’s old No 19 guernsey the comparisons with the great goalkicker were inevitable. He went onto play a major role kicking one goal in the 1999 Night Premiership when the Hawks, 12.11.83 defeated Port Adelaide 5.6.36
As an opportunist forward Dixon proved to be a constant headache to opposition teams. He continued to be a vital part of the attack as a mid sized forward and a foil to the bigger Hawk forwards. Dixon’s long kicking and willingness for the contest made him a key component. His coolness under pressure was rewarded when he kicked the winning goal after the final siren against Carlton in round 17, 2001 much to the delight of the true believers of the Brown & Gold. Dixon had a very good game kicking a handy 4 goals against the Blues.
Renown for his sense of fun with that slight cheeky smile, Dixon played his 100th game against the North Melbourne on May 4, round 6 at the MCG. The Hawks won by 68 points, the scores 24.11. 155 to 13.9 87 with Dixon kicked 3 goals. A very rewarding game for both the team and Dixon.
Joel Smith was initially recruited by St Kilda from Yarrawonga / Murray U19s in 1995. He played 58 games, kicking 51 goals as a classy half-forward flanker who always seemed to have extra time to get his kick. His career however was threatened by a severe knee injury, resulting in his contract negotiations at the end of 1997 stalling. Hawthorn took the chance and signed him up knowing that Smith would miss all of 1998 recovering from his knee reconstruction.
Smith played his first game in 1999, round 2 against Adelaide, unfortunate the team lost, going down by 4 points, 8.8.56 to Adelaide 8.12.60, however he was very pleased to play out the game in his return to AFL football. A switch to defense and a chat with former Brownlow Medalist Gerard Healy turned around his career. His cool anticipation and running from deep in the backline helped him to achieve the consistency that he strove for. The Club’s judgment was vindicated when he won the Hawks’ Club Champion Award after a dazzling 2001 season. He was often pitted against taller forwards such as Adelaide’s, Chad Cornes, Richmond’s, Matthew Richardson and Carltons, Anthony Koutoufides and was able to run off them and create play.
He was selected as an All-Australian in 2001 and 2003 coming third in the Club Champion Award in 2004. His experience and deceptive strength meant he could play on large or small opponents. Smith played his 100th AFL game on May 19, 2001 at the MCG in round 8 against the West Coast Eagles. The Hawks won by 60 points, 21.12.138 to the Eagles 8.10.58. He went onto play 163 games for the Hawks wearing Guernsey No 11 and kicked 39 goals.
We thank Mark Haines for his outstanding contribution to the Club Collection in presenting the guerneys worn by Ben Dixon and Joel Smith in their milestone 100th games of AFL football.
Two significant guernseys from members of Club 17
