Michael Dickson, an Australian punter and Super Bowl champion, believes that NRL standout Matt Burton has the potential to succeed in the NFL punting arena if he commits to mastering the finer details of the craft. Dickson’s assessment comes as Burton recently showcased his impressive kicking power during pre-season training, launching the ball over 60 metres, drawing frequent comparisons to NFL punts.
Burton, aged 25, has expressed genuine interest in switching football codes and recently had the opportunity to train at the Las Vegas Raiders‘ facility. This experience coincided with the Bulldogs’ preparations for their NRL season opener against the Dragons at Allegiant Stadium, adding to the increasing speculation around his future possibilities in American football.
From NRL to NFL: Evaluating the Transition Challenges
Sydney-born Dickson, known primarily for his AFL and NFL backgrounds, initially pursued Australian Rules football with the Sydney Swans academy before making his way to American football. Despite following AFL more than rugby league, Dickson is confident that an athlete of Burton’s calibre could adapt to NFL punting demands.
“I’m sure he could do it,”
Dickson stated, emphasizing that while the kicking techniques differ between Australian Rules, league, and American football, finding the “sweet spot” on an NFL ball is achievable with time and persistence. Dickson highlighted how the NFL ball requires a distinct contact point compared to those used in AFL or rugby league, but believes Burton could learn to adjust.
Dickson’s own journey began training in Melbourne with Prokick Australia before heading to the University of Texas for college football, ultimately leading to his selection by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2018 NFL Draft. His rise included becoming the highest-paid punter in the NFL and only the second Australian to win a Super Bowl, with Seattle defeating New England earlier this month.
The Importance of Precision and Mental Fortitude in NFL Punting
Unlike the NRL, where players like Burton can compensate for errors by contributing in tackles or running plays, NFL punters face incredibly high standards with far fewer opportunities to impact a game. Dickson explained that NFL punters may only have three to four punts per game, and even a small percentage of imperfect kicks can seriously affect their success ratings.
“In league, you can hit a bad ball and be like, ‘That’s it, I want to make this tackle, I want to do something here (to make amends),’”
Dickson said.
“(In the NFL) you might only get three or four punts a game. And if one or two of them aren’t perfect, you can still hit a decent ball but it’s not perfect, then 50 per cent of your game wasn’t up to standard.”
He described the challenge of consistently delivering quality punts as demanding, noting the difficulty in maintaining a high standard across an entire season:
“It’s really quite difficult to have a year where out of 70 punts, 65 of them are really good punts. That’s a very hard thing to do, so I give it the attention and the effort that it deserves.”
Discipline, Analysis, and Mental Training Behind the Success
Throughout his NFL career, Dickson has maintained detailed journals since 2020, reviewing nearly 1,000 punts from games and practice to continuously improve his technique. His off-field routine also involves reading extensively about stoicism, performance psychology, and discipline, drawing inspiration from authors like Ryan Holiday and Michael Gervais.
Having received a Kindle as a Christmas gift to aid his reading goals, Dickson emphasized the importance of rigorous preparation and mental focus.
“I try to leave no stone unturned,”
he said.
“It’s about extreme discipline in the detail.”
What It Takes for Burton to Thrive in the NFL
According to Dickson, Burton must bring more than just leg strength to the NFL; he needs a resilient mindset, almost bordering on delusional confidence. Punting often comes at moments when the team is under pressure, and the punter must believe they can shift the momentum with a single kick.
“You’ve got to have a big leg, and you have to be somewhat delusional,”
Dickson said.
“A lot of the time, you’re going out there when the game’s not going well, the offence wasn’t doing their thing. You need to go out there and think, I’m about to flip this game.”
If Burton can combine physical ability with unwavering self-belief and attention to detail, his prospects in the NFL could be promising, expanding the Australian influence in American football.
