VFL 2018: Lochie Dickson shares Coburg best and fairest with Marcus Lentini

FROM his emergence at Norwood to winning Coburg’s Jim Sullivan Medal, defender Lochie Dickson has developed at a rapid rate to thrust himself onto the radar of AFL clubs.

Coburg VFL defender Lochie Dickson.

SUCH was the impact Lochie Dickson made in his maiden VFL season, Coburg has pledged to use the half-back flanker’s transition from community footy to the state league as its recruiting prototype.

Dickson joined the Lions from Norwood, having played more than 50 senior games in Eastern Football League Division 1.

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The 24-year-old won more disposals than any other defender in the VFL this year, averaging 21 possessions per game, statistics which were rewarded when he shared the club’s best and fairest award with midfielder Marcus Lentini.

“I was pretty confident I would be able to play at the standard in that sort of role and have a go at it,” Dickson said.

“I just wanted to play every game and expected to play well every game.”

Dickson’s consistency impressed Coburg officials to the point they chose to nominate him for the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal and the VFL team of the year.

“At 24 years of age he should appeal to AFL teams looking to add the in-vogue mature age player that can impact at the next level if required to,” Lions general manager Seb Spagnuolo said.

“At 190cm, Lochie can play on talls and smalls and there’s some genuine AFL interest in him.”

Coburg VFL defender Lochie Dickson enjoyed a superb debut season to catch the eye of a few AFL clubs.

Dickson said he had “no real expectations” about being drafted, but feels he would be ready to grasp an opportunity at the elite level if given one.

“If there was a team out there that I’d fill the need for, I’d be pretty confident of being able to step up to the next level,” he said.

“But I am pretty realistic and it’s probably unlikely.

“I haven’t thought about it too much but if the opportunity came up, I would feel pretty prepared at this point and my age, that I would be able to give it my best shot.”

Lochie Dickson won plenty of footy for Coburg across half-back this year.

Dickson, from Wonga Park, said he was thrilled to share Coburg’s Jim Sullivan Medal with Lentini, the VFL’s leading possession winner in his debut campaign.

“Pretty amazing at 18. When I was 18, I was nowhere near being ready to play VFL football,” he said.

Lochie Dickson climbs over a pack to spoil against Port Melbourne.

“To be able to win the contested ball numbers he does at that age against more mature and physically bigger players is a massive effort. He’ll only get better as he gets older.”

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While being opposed to AFL-listed players was a new challenge, Dickson said he had learned just as much from his battles with seasoned VFL performers.

“I looked forward to the challenge every week,” he said.

“A lot of the AFL-listed players you play against, a lot of the time, are a bit younger.

“It’s the more mature guys from the stand-alone teams that are just as difficult to match up on.”

Dickson, who works as a software consultant, is “99 per cent sure” he will recommit to Coburg for next year after an eye-catching start to life at Piranha Park.

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