By Travis Parnaby
Outgoing Vic Metro coach David Dickson has a CV stacked with achievement.
For 12 years, Dickson has guided the Vic Metro side at the NAB AFL Under-18 National Championships and incredibly, has taken home the title on all but four occassions.
Winning is imbedded in his make-up but this was no doubt tested in 1997 when he was appointed.
"The first words (then Football Victoria CEO) Ken Gannon said to me when I was hired was 'If you don't win it this year 'Dicko' we'll sack you'," Dickson said.
Fortunately, Dickson had no troubles delivering his boss the promised land in his first year as coach.
“I was lucky that I had such players as Luke Power, Trent Croad and Nick Stevens – of the 25 players we had, 22 were drafted, it was just a super team," he said humbly.
Dickson's close Vic Metro colleague and friend Doug Mills heaped praise on the retiring coach for the “excellent way he has managed all concerned”.
“Your non-complicated coaching techniques even including the ‘Dicko’ one percenters and the friendship you’ve provided to all involved over the years has been exceptional,” Mills said.
“He only lost five games (from 38 matches) and that’s an outstanding performance.
“I only know of a couple of occasions where players have been upset for not being selected but I think with all of those players in 12 years that’s not a bad average to only have a couple.
“All those players will hunt out David Dickson and remind him that they appreciated what he done for them.”
Dickson admitted his thirst for victory had to be curtailed at times in the early 90s as junior development shifted from win at all costs to nurturing talent.
“I didn’t understand how quickly suburban football was moving, I coached Preston in those days," he recalled.
“The TAC Cup was a new concept and that this was the way to go with modern football development.
“I spoke to Kevin Sheehan about getting involved and he said ‘you’re too much about winning ‘Dicko’, we’re about developing players’.
“A few years later I was with the Oakleigh Chargers and Kevin rang me up and said to me `we’d want you to coach the Vic Under-18 Metropolitan'.
“I was really surprised. I didn’t think a young bloke coming out of the commission area of Coburg was able to coach at that level."
Dickson said this evolution in Victorian football had taught him a lot and he moved with the times.
“The game has changed," Dickson reflected.
"If you don’t change you fall by the wayside.”
This change in approach was observed by Dickson's mentor Kevin Sheehan.
“The role of coaching a side in the national championships is a difficult one in that you’ve got competing objectives,” Sheehan said.
“One objective is to develop the players to show them in the best light for AFL recruiters and the other is to win.
“He’s had nearly 200 players go into the AFL and he’s got them spread right across the competition.
“They have loved the experience of being in the Vic Metro side under David Dickson.
“He cared about them, realised the pressures they were under whilst in that team environment and was able to allow them to focus on trying to win a championship and enjoy that experience.
“We are indebted and you are a champion for Vic Metro footy.”
Dickson's "journey" began when he retired from the AFL owing to shot knees.
“I still had a love of the game and in 1978 I went out to coach the Bayswater Football Club and 30 years to the day since I started coaching I give it away,” Dickson said.
In his final year as coach, he leaves on the highest of highs - a Vic Metro win at the 2008 NAB AFL under-18 National Championships.
“We’ve always played an offensive game, played in the best manner we can," Dickson said.
“The last match WA had the likes of Chris Yarran, Nicholas Natanui and Daniel Rich and I come away very proud of the way you came together as a team.
“Blokes like Tommy Lynch and Luke Schuey in that last game put their bodies just to block and give opportunities for Sam Blease to run free and kick that goal in the last quarter, they started to understand you have to be part of a team.
"It took a long time to get there but we got there.”
Last Modified on 27/01/2009 11:30
