Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Australia’s Super Bowl hero Michael Dickson admits it hurts for his Seattle Seahawks to have been snubbed from the NFL’s first regular-season game Down Under.
The Sydney-born punter this month became only the second Aussie to play on a winning Super Bowl team as the Seahawks defeated New England 29-13 in Santa Clara.
It capped an 11-year journey for one-time AFL hopeful Dickson, scouted by the University of Texas from Prokick Australia before his eight-year Seahawks career.
“It was such a big goal of mine for such a long time, since getting to the US,” Dickson said of his Super Bowl triumph.
“To finally achieve it with this team that I love so much, it’s just surreal.”
Dickson touched down in Australia on Monday following a holiday to Bali, and wasted little time tucking into a chicken parmigiana with chicken-salted chips.
The Pro Bowl punter famously told a US TV reporter he was “craving” the classic Australian pub meal during a viral on-field interview after the Super Bowl.
“That was genuine, especially chicken salt. I love chips and chicken salt, you just cannot get it in the States,” said Dickson, now an ambassador for Mingle chicken salt.
After some downtime in Australia, the fastidious Dickson will turn his attention to preparing for the 2026-27 season.
But he’s disappointed Seattle’s title defence won’t begin in Australia, with the Seahawks overlooked for the historic clash slated for next season’s opening round.
The LA Rams and San Francisco 49ers will take to the MCG on a to-be-announced date in early September.
The 49ers were announced as the “away” team earlier this month, despite not counting any Aussies on their 53-man roster nor holding marketing rights for Australia.
The NFL splits key overseas target markets among its 32 teams, with the Seahawks, Rams, Las Vegas Raiders and Jordan Mailata’s Philadelphia Eagles assigned to Australia.
“It definitely stings,” Dickson said of the Seahawks being snubbed.
“I was pitching it all year, I was talking to the Seahawks lady who works with us who was trying to get it to happen.”
Tradition is for the Super Bowl champions to play their first match of the new season at their home stadium, which Dickson feels may have precluded his side.
“That was pretty much the reasoning that I heard,” Dickson said.
“We were a good chance to play here but I’m hoping that if we win the Super Bowl next year we can still get out to Australia.
“Hopefully it’s not Round 1 (next year) or maybe they find a better system where they’ll let us. But the Seahawks definitely need to get out here.”
Now that he has ticked the top item off his NFL bucket list, Super Bowl champion Dickson is eager for the chance to play in Australia.
The MCG would be particularly fitting; Dickson ignited his American football dream by moving to Melbourne to join the Prokick Australia program as a 19-year-old.
“That’s a big thing on the bucket list, to play here. That’s such a full circle moment for me. That’d be a dream come true,” Dickson said.
Dickson feels he has plenty of time to make that dream a reality.
The 30-year-old is the longest-serving active player on the Seahawks’ roster, making his debut in 2018, and is contracted through the 2029 season.
“I don’t even think I’m halfway yet. These eight years flew by,” he said.
“My body feels great. I’m just going to keep improving and keep tweaking things and see where it gets me.”
