Tory Dickson Biography

Tory Dickson announces his retirement after 114 games across nine seasons, including a premiership in 2016.

"I'm incredibly proud of everything I have achieved as a Western Bulldogs player," he said.

"For a long time, I didn't think I would get to play one AFL game and to have played more than 100 games for this club and contribute to our 2016 premiership success was incredible. The opportunity the Western Bulldogs have given me is something I will always be grateful for."

Tory Dickson signs a one-year contract extension with the Bulldogs to play on in 2020.

"Tory was able to bounce back this year after a couple of injury-hit seasons to play consistent football at AFL level. He provided an important avenue to goal for us throughout the year and knows how to make the most of his opportunities," Bulldogs list manager Sam Power said.

"We're confident that he will have plenty to offer next year, complementing our emerging group of forwards."

Tory Dickson signs a new one-year deal with the Bulldogs to remain at the club in 2019.

"I feel like I've got plenty to offer the team next season," Dickson said.

"After a frustrating season with injuries, I'm looking forward to getting back to full fitness and playing my role every week."

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says Tory Dickson faces an uphill battle to win a new contract at Whitten Oval due to persistent injuries.

"(Tory's) had tough 2017 and 2018 (seasons) because we just haven't seen enough of him, and he's had injury after injury, so it is frustrating for him," Beveridge said.

"He's a lad that's given great service (to the club), but he's not a 22-year-old, so he's keen to get back and play a few games before the end of the year and work out a way forward beyond that."

Tory Dickson will spend up to six weeks on the sidelines after scans revealed significant damage to his troublesome hamstring.

"This is the same hamstring he damaged in the round five Fremantle game," Bulldogs medical services manager Chris Bell said.

"We’re going to have to be conservative in Tory’s reload in rehab this time and we expect him to miss the next five to six weeks."

Tory Dickson will be sidelined for up to six weeks with a significant hamstring strain he suffered in the Bulldogs' loss to Fremantle.

Essendon coach John Worsfold attributes Conor McKenna's decision to bite Western Bulldog Tory Dickson to a "brain fade".

"It's a fraction of second brain fade, a lack of concentration, fatigue, stress, there are a lot of factors that go into it," Worsfold said of the incident.

"I've said (to Conor) things happen in footy, we make wrong decisions at times and we deal with the consequences, we don't dwell on it and we focus on being better."

Conor McKenna has been suspended for three weeks after pleading guilty to biting Western Bulldogs forward Tory Dickson.

"I take responsibility for my actions. I'm very sorry for what I've done and am looking forward to moving on and getting on with the season," McKenna said.

Tory Dickson suffers a setback in his return from off-season groin surgery, with the forward now set to miss up to a month with an abdominal concern.

The 29-year-old pulled up sore following Footscray's VFL practice match win over Collingwood.

"Tory developed some abdominal pain after the game on the weekend. We will manage this over the next 3-4 weeks, and reassess his return to play after this date," Bulldogs medical services manager Chris Bell said.

Tory Dickson recommits to the Western Bulldogs for a further two seasons.

"I'm over the moon because it shows tremendous faith in me from the club," Dickson said.

"It extends my time at the Bulldogs for at least another two years, so it's great. I'm really happy to be at the Dogs."

Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney said he was delighted to retain the services of one the first players he recruited upon starting at the club in late 2011.

"Tory has proven himself as an integral part of our forward line, with his work rate, forward craft and goal sense highlights of his game," McCartney said.

Tory Dickson is such a good kick for goal that stats say the Bulldog goalsneak is the second best the game has ever seen.

In a day and age where goalkicking in the AFL is as unreliable as it's ever been, the 28-year-old's career average of 75.92 per cent is marginally behind 1980s and 90s journeyman Michael Murphy's record return of 76.83 per cent for players who have had 50 or more shots at goal.

Dickson, who has slotted 108.35 from 62 games, says the secret to his unerring accuracy is to keep the process simple.

"I wouldn't say it comes easy to me, but I don't have a total routine step wise," Dickson said.

"I bring my heart rate down with a few deep breaths, make sure my momentum is always going forward and just go through with it."

Tory Dickson's spell on the sidelines is set to continue with a quad injury the forward's latest setback.

Dickson hasn't played since week two of the NAB Challenge due to an adductor complaint, and was set to face Fremantle on the weekend before the training mishap.

“Tory was on track to play against Fremantle, after recovering from an adductor strain from NAB one, but he suffered a minor quad strain in the last training of the week," Bulldogs' football manger Graham Lowe said.

“He’s a two-to-three week recovery time, so we’re expecting him to be available round four.”

Tory Dickson faces a race against time to be fit for the Western Bulldogs' season opener against Fremantle, with an adductor injury hampering the goalsneak's preparation.

The 28-year-old hasn't played since pulling up sore at quarter time in the Dogs' NAB Challenge win over Greater Western Sydney on February 25.

"He's just had a little adductor strain and he seems like he's 100% now, but we're not taking any risks with him," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.

"We think he'll be available, but it's not ideal that he hasn't played a lot of footy leading in to round one."

For the first time in his four seasons, Dickson has played every game and he continued his stellar form with a three-goal, 16-disposal effort in the Dogs' thumping 64-point win over Port Adelaide.

"I had a really good pre-season, no little niggles, and it's the first time I've been able to play every single game for the year," Dickson said.

"It's a combination of work-rate and being able to play different roles, and the attacking game style probably suits me a little bit more."

Dickson has now returned a career-high haul of 37 majors, with just 10 behinds, and built a reputation as the League's dead-eye in front of goals.

"I've always been a fairly good set shot and I take pride in my set shots. I don't like missing, it's a wasted opportunity," Dickson said.

"A lot of it comes down to ball drop. When I miss, I know why I miss. My distance is about 45m, so when I get outside of that sort of range my technique starts to waver a little bit and that's why I pull it."

Tory Dickson has his hands full juggling a blossoming AFL career and the responsibility of being a single parent to seven-year-old son Riley.

"It's a massive balancing act," Dickson said.

"I've got a 50-50 custody arrangement (with Riley's mother), so I have him week on, week off.

"It's difficult at times, but I've got some amazing support from family and friends, and mum and dad help me out enormously, especially when we play interstate games."

Dickson is a dead-eye in front goal and just as dangerous when he doesn't have the ball.

A career-best season has seen him slot 26 goals at an impressive 76 per cent efficiency, including a bag of seven against flag fancies Fremantle in round seven.

"It is something I take pretty seriously. I don't like missing because I really pride myself on goal kicking," Dickson said.

"But tackling and pressure is what I base my game on, so I don't need to be kicking goals to stay in the team."

Tory Dickson has had surgery on his injured pectoral and will miss the next eight to 10 weeks.

Tory Dickson's season could be in jeopardy after the Western Bulldogs confirmed the forward ruptured a pectoral muscle during the Dogs' 16-point win over Melbourne at the MCG.

Bulldog Tory Dickson gets new two-year contract after strong return to form.

"It's been great to agree to terms, I'm really excited, I think we're going places and its really good to put pen to paper," Dickson said.

"It's my third year, I feel I'm growing year by year but I've still got a lot to learn."

Tory Dickson has played at four clubs in four years, but may have finally found a home at the Western Bulldogs after kicking a game-high four goals against North Melbourne.

"He's a good package," Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney said.

"He's powerful, he's got a good understanding of when to tackle and when not to, where to run; he's got a good handle on both sides of the game, which is really important for a forward."

Tory Dickson makes his AFL debut for the Western Bulldogs at Docklands Stadium with 12 disposals (6 kicks and 6 handballs) and 3 marks in a 49-point loss to West Coast.