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Ross Dillon

Image DOB: 10 December 1947

Debut: Round 1, 1966 against St. Kilda at MCG
Last Game: Round 18, 1972 against Carlton at MCG

From: Kyabram/Melbourne High School

Number: 24 (1966-1972)

Honours:
Victorian state player - 1969, 1970
Night Series winner - 1971

Games: 85
Goals: 133
Career Statistics

WinsDrawsLossesWinning %
2306227.05

A strong marking forward who was lured to the Demons as a 17-year-old, Dillon was also a talented cricketer who was partly lured by the opportunity to play on the MCG during summer.

After a positive start to his career Dillon suffered a serious knee injury in his sixth game, shortly after winning his permanent clearances. This restricted him to 13 matches the next year before missing most of 1968 with another knee injury which required surgery.

He finally became an injury free regular in 1969 when he played 19 games, kicked 48 goals and won Victorian state selection. All but eight of his goals came in the second half of the year. In 1970 got 41 and once again earnt a Big V jumper.

After his two best seasons, Dillon suffered an achilles injury in the 1971 pre-season and didn't play until Round 14. He would only kick four goals from seven games. 1972 saw Dillon back into the squad from Round 1, but he only managed five goals in eleven games after recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.

In 1973 Dillon started a new job in Adelaide and signed a three year contract with SANFL side Norwood. It was initially suggested by the Demons that he would fly back each week for games but despite playing in a practice match he eventually moved to South Australia. There he won their goalkicking and best and fairest in the 1975 premiership year. The Demons tried to woo him back to the VFL but he stayed when he was appointed playing coach of their Reserves side. They won the premiership that year and he also coached them the next season.

On leaving he said "I hope Melbourne is mindful of the fact that I have given the club seven years of honest service. I know I have had my ups and downs, but it's not as though I haven't given 100 percent effort, and I've never been any trouble to them". He went on to represent South Australia in the 1975 Interstate Carnival.

In the 1980s Dillon worked as a member of the Demons' South Australian recruiting team, and he later served on the Adelaide Crows board.

He was also a talented cricketer who played first grade for the Melbourne and Kensington clubs.

YearGamesGoalsBrownlow
1966 634
1967 13196
1968 7131
1969 19483
1970 22413
1971 740
1972 1152

Lists
SANFL

Notes
May have also played for Victoria in 1971.

Media
Age - 28/03/1966
Age - 01/06/1966
Age - 24/02/1971
Age - 01/03/1973
Age - 06/03/1973
Inside Football - 14/06/1975

Links
Demonwiki image gallery
Redlegs Museum profile
Wikipedia profile

Created by Supermercado. Last Modification: Wednesday 13 March 2024 22:23:17 AEDT by Supermercado. (Version 36)

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