Donald Dickie is a former professional Australian rules footballer notable for his brief appearance in the Australian Football League

Australian Football League

The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...

 for the Port Adelaide Football Club

Port Adelaide Football Club

The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...

. Dickie was born in New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

  of a Māori heritage, he is one of few Maori Australian

Maori Australian

A Māori Australian is an Australian of Māori heritage. In 2008, there were approximately 100,000 people with Māori ancestry living in Australia. Māori Australians constitute Australia's largest Polynesian ethnic group...

s in the history of the VFL/AFL. His family emigrated to South Australia

South Australia

South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...

 where he played with the Norwood Football Club

Norwood Football Club

Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...

.

Port Adelaide career (1997 - 2000)

Dickie was taken at Pick #19 in the pre-season AFL draft as a zone selection.

The wingman became a cult player at Port Adelaide known for his exciting dashing play and hard tackles. At the end of the 1998 AFL season he earned runner up in the John Cahill Medal

John Cahill Medal

The John Cahill Medal, named after Port Adelaide Power's inaugural AFL coach John Cahill, is awarded to the Best and Fairest player every season for the Port Adelaide Football Club.-Recipients:-Multiple Recipients:...

.

After inconsistent form and complications with ankle injuries Dickie was delisted by the power at the end of 2000 having played a total of 55 games.

Coaching career

Dickie is now an assistant coach with the Sturt Football Club

Sturt Football Club

Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball...

 in the SANFL.