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Vale: Robert Dickson

A former AFL player who became a rising documentary filmmaker has been killed in a car accident in Africa, aged 45.

dicksonFormer Hawthorn football player turned documentary filmmaker, Robert Dickson was killed overnight in a car accident in Africa, aged 45.

It is believed he had been travelling with family and friends.

Dickson was a filmmaker on the rise, with his recent documentary The Essence of the Game airing on Channel Seven only last month. It had been commissioned by the AFL and Channel Seven to commemorate the 150th birthday celebrations of the game.

He also made the Shane Crawford Exposed documentary released in 2004 and The Passion to Play in 2001. He gained national exposure as the inaugural winner of Australian Survivor when he collected the $500,000 first prize.

Speaking recently about the Essence of the Game AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said, “Rob Dickson’s outstanding work had long been known within the football industry.

“Rob went to every part of Australia, and every level of the game, in 2008 to record and recognise the pivotal role that Australian football plays in Australian society today.

The Essence of the Game is a wonderful record of a year in the sport, and the place of the sport in our country.”

Today he added: “He was a wonderful filmmaker but above all he was a wonderful person who brought enormous empathy to what he was doing, whether it was filming a NAB Auskick clinic or Sam Mitchell standing in the middle of the MCG savouring a premiership medal.

“”He was one of those rare people who could capture on film the passion and beauty of the game and to articulate in images exactly what we all love about the game but struggle to be able to put into words,” he said.

Dickson played 17 matches for Hawthorn between 1988 and 1990 and was named as an emergency for the Hawks’ 1989 premiership team. He also played two matches for the Brisbane Bears in 1991.

It is believed members of his family were also involved in the car accident.

Source: The Age, Herald Sun, AFL.com.au

9 Responses

  1. That’s a huge shock to me (not just as a Hawthorn fan). Robert is a very talented documentary maker as well as a good footballer, and will be missed on and off the field.
    RIP

  2. I remember Rob as the winner of Australian Survivor more than a football player, and being a Survivor fan it’s a shame to see him go. My thoughts are with his friends and family.

  3. This is a tragedy. I have had the pleasure of meeting Rob and his family on a few occasions – a true gentleman, great father and family man just to name a few of his qualities. Further to the above, his younger son Byron (5 years of age) also lost his life in the accident.

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