[citation needed] AFL fans first learnt of Dickfos when he made appearances in State of Origin matches, impressing for Queensland.
After winning the best first year player award (sharing it with Clark Keating), Dickfos played 65 games for the Brisbane Bears and Lions.
In 1997, he was given the Lions one percenter of the year award and finished fifth in the Merrett–Murray Medal, behind Matthew Clarke, Nigel Lappin, Marcus Ashcroft and Justin Leppitsch.
In 1999, after just a few seasons in the AFL and at the age of 29, Dickfos decided to return to the QAFL and the Eagles, to the disappointment of many Brisbane Lions fans.
He went on to win the 2000 Grogan Medal and continued to be an impressive player, playing over 250 games for the Eagles club, becoming the new record holder.