john fanning (born 5 september 1948) is a former australian rules footballer who played with essendon in the victorian football league (vfl). fanning's uncle, fred, was a champion goalkicker with melbourne and still holds the record for most goals in a single vfl/afl match. with essendon, fanning won the under-19s best and fairest in 1967 and a reserves premiership in 1968. after leaving the bombers, he played for williamstown and brunswick in the victorian football association (vfa), winning a premiership with the former. fanning finished his career with strathmore in 1979.