Tory Dickson says the Western Bulldogs' more adventurous game plan and confidence in his body have been the keys that have unlocked his career-best form this season.
The 27-year-old sharpshooter has been one of many revelations at the Kennel under first-year coach Luke Beveridge in 2015.
For the first time in his four seasons, Dickson has played every game and he continued his stellar form with a three-goal, 16-disposal effort in the Dogs' thumping 64-point win over Port Adelaide on Saturday.
"I had a really good pre-season, no little niggles, and it's the first time I've been able to play every single game for the year," Dickson told AFL.com.au.
"It's a combination of work-rate and being able to play different roles, and the attacking game style probably suits me a little bit more."
Dickson has now returned a career-high haul of 37 majors, with just 10 behinds, and built a reputation as the League's dead-eye in front of goals.
The damaging Dog has arguably taken the mantle of Hawthorn sharpshooter Luke Breust as the game's most accurate shot for goal.
However, he rued missing the chance to edge closer to Breust's shared record with Tony Lockett of 29 goals without a miss when he pulled a long-range shot the left in the second term against Port, breaking his run of 21 goals without a blemish.
"I was pretty flat about that actually. I passed the first one off from about 55 and I thought I had to have a shot with the second one," Dickson said.
"It only just missed as well. It's a little thing and I was happy to get the next couple."
Despite his unerring accuracy, Dickson doesn't have a set shot routine.
He just keeps things as simple as possible in front of goal.
"I don't go back a certain amount of steps. I just get back off the mark and make sure my hands are in the right place and I get good momentum going through the ball," Dickson said.
"I've always been a fairly good set shot and I take pride in my set shots. I don't like missing, it's a wasted opportunity.
"A lot of it comes down to ball drop. When I miss, I know why I miss. My distance is about 45m, so when I get outside of that sort of range my technique starts to waver a little bit and that's why I pull it."
Dickson, who was subbed in the fourth term on Saturday purely to manage his sore body, has formed a potent combination with Jake Stringer and Stewart Crameri in recent weeks.
That trio contributed 10 goals against the Power, while big man Jack Redpath also slotted four majors – all in the final term – to add another element to a dangerous forward setup.
"It's really hard to match up on us if someone each week is popping up," Dickson said.
"There might be a lock-down defender each week on another team and they've got to change it up if someone's bobbing up."
The Dogs' win over the Power has kept them in top four contention and they now face Melbourne next week, with a favourable run home suggesting they could shock everyone by earning the double chance come finals time.
Having beaten top four contenders West Coast, Richmond and the Sydney Swans, Dickson said the Dogs won't fear any opponent if they make it deep into September.
"If we play the football we want to play and it's on our terms, we can beat anyone," he said.
"We're going to go in with the belief that we can beat anyone, as long as we stick it out and play to our structure."
