The pair worked closely in the making of the documentary and Mitchell was as shocked as anyone when news came through last Saturday that Dickson and his two sons Byron and Gabriel had died in a car crash in South Africa.
Knowing he had to captain his team in a match the following day, Mitchell says coping with the grief was a challenge in more ways than one.
“It’s such a tough situation. Part of you is really feeling for his family and everyone involved and missing him yourself,” Mitchell said.
“I went home and kissed my fiancé on the head and told her I loved her. You hold on a bit tighter to your loved ones. It was a pretty tough situation we went through but I think the boys handled it pretty well.”
Mitchell admits he is yet to come to terms with the passing of Dickson, who spent much of 2008 embedded with the Hawks as he filmed the documentary.
“He was one of those blokes who took it all before him. I had plans with him to catch up and talk about doing another doco in the States,” he said.
“I look in my phone and I’ve still got his phone number in there. It sort of feels a bit surreal. All my feelings go to his poor wife who has lost not just a husband but two kids as well.”
One of the final scenes in Dickson’s critically acclaimed documentary featured a shot of Mitchell walking on to the MCG after last year’s premiership as the reality of his success sunk in.
He said it was a moment that he would never forget.
“You always think about playing in a premiership and that is what you strive to do your whole life. When I watch that tape, I had one of those little moments where I realised I’m not at Auskick dreaming about it anymore. It’s actually a reachable ambition. It just made it a bit more real for me.”
