- Australian impresses American fans with his kicking style
- Michael Dickson is one of the best bettors in the NFL
- Dickson grew up in Sydney playing Aussie Rules
American NFL fans were stunned by Australian punter Michael Dickson’s unorthodox kicking style.
The 28-year-old Seattle Seahawks star has captivated the league for years with his unorthodox (and effective) punting skills born of a failed Aussie Rules career; and did it again over the weekend.
During Seattle’s loss to the Packers, Dickson unleashed a powerful torpedo kick that punt returner Jayden Reed had trouble holding on to.
“That was a tough wobbler to catch,” commented the commentary team.
‘That was one of those… Australian kicks, right. You swing through your body with that kick and it has that wild spin that you don’t see that often.’
Dickson, who grew up in Sydney, has been one of the NFL’s top punters for the past seven seasons.
Michael Dickson has been impressing NFL fans for years with his punting skills.
Teammate Leonard Williams recently commented on the enormous impact the Australian has on games.
“It was an unexpected surprise,” the Seahawks defensive end said. Seattle Times.
“I don’t think I paid too much attention to that position, but because he’s so good at it, it kind of makes you pay more attention to his work.
“You also notice the huge impact it has on the game, which is something I’ve never noticed before.”
Dickson was a member of the Swans’ talent academy as a youngster and spent time playing in the club’s reserve team as he sought to be selected in the AFL draft.
Fortunately, even though the AFL door closed, an even more exciting window opened.
Dickson and his prodigious right leg were recruited by Pro Kick Australia, with the former Sydneysider starring at the University of Texas, where he met teammate Gianni Outram, an entertainer.
Such was the ability he displayed early on, he was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft, unusually high for bettors, by Seattle… and the rest was history.
The Australian intended to reach the AFL when he was young, but instead succeeded in the NFL with his thunderous kicks.
Dickson, pictured with his girlfriend Gianni Outram, was selected in 2018.
He made an immediate impact at the NFL level and in 2021 signed a $21.9 million contract to make him the highest-paid punter in the league.
He’s so good that he provided one of the most viral moments of the 2021 season when he made the most of his Aussie Rules experience during the iconic ‘Double Punt’ play.
Playing against the eventual Super Bowl champions, the LA Rams, one of Dickson’s punts was blocked while deep in his team’s territory.
Instead of simply diving on the loose ball to prevent the opponent from taking possession, Dickson drew on his Aussie Rules experience, scooped it up with one hand and kicked again (something many pundits weren’t sure was legal) and he sent the ball down almost 70 yards. the field.
It drove the entire football world crazy and has since become an iconic moment; So much so that there are now t-shirts and caps printed with it.