It’s easy to forget in the footy fishbowl that is Melbourne, that for the players there is a life beyond the painted white lines.

For Tory Dickson, father of an eight-year-old boy, his recently signed contract extension is as much about extending his career playing the game he loves, as it is about where son Riley grows up.

“Obviously I’ve got a pretty good set up out this way, I’ve got my little boy across the road [at a local school], Dickson said.

“This is my fifth year being out here, I’ve got a house in Spotswood, it’s been great, Riley’s pretty happy playing his football and doing really well as well.”

But he’s got a pretty good thing going on the field too, Dickson telling westernbulldogs.com.au that the closeness of the group made the decision to sign on for a further too years an easy one.

“It’s definitely one of the factors, we’re all so tight and I’ve got such good friends here.

“That’ll extend it to seven years here, and playing six years of local level and VFL football I never really thought I would get to play that many years at an AFL club, so I’m wrapped to get the opportunity.

“It was an easy decision.  I love the Club and I love the direction we’re going.”