The dangerous goal sneak joins talented youngsters Jack Macrae, Jake Stringer and Lachy Hunter in showing faith in the Bulldogs' direction under coach Brendan McCartney in the past few months.
Recruited as a mature aged player from the Bendigo Bombers with pick 57 in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft, Dickson says he couldn't be happier remaining at Whitten Oval.
"It's been great to agree to terms, I'm really excited, I think we're going places and its really good to put pen to paper," Dickson said.
"It's my third year, I feel I'm growing year by year but I've still got a lot to learn."
But reflecting on his efforts in the Bulldogs' opening round thrashing at the hands of the Eagles, he has no doubts why he spent the next month in the VFL.
"I played round one, and there was a couple of soft efforts, and I wasn't proud of them," he said.
"If you're not playing the right way, you're going to find yourself out of the team."
A chat with McCartney and forwards coach Shannon Grant quickly reminded the 26-year-old what is expected of him.
"It was to do with form, it was to do with effort and work rate," Dickson said.
"I guess I just went back (to the VFL) and worked on a few little things I needed to work on and then found my way back in to the team."
It's not the first time the former Essendon assistant coaches have had an influence on Dickson's rise from suburban footballer to a Bulldog regular.
"I guess I have them (McCartney and Grant) to thank really, (after) going back and giving VFL another go playing with the Bendigo Bombers," he said.
"You never know, maybe if those guys weren't there I might not have got that opportunity, so I'm very grateful to them and the Western Bulldogs."
