Australian Football

From Albury, Ben Doolan was widely regarded as a player of considerable potential when he commenced with Sydney in 1991. However, although he displayed flashes of brilliance, at the end of his career nine seasons later his report card, had there been one, would have read ‘could, indeed should, have done better’.

In 1993, after 25 games for the Swans, he surprised many when he asked to be traded elsewhere. He ended up at Essendon, in what was to be a premiership year for the club, but he failed to make a single senior appearance. Thereafter, there was gradual improvement, and by 1996 he was finally beginning to display the sort of form of which he was capable, but a foot injury sustained the following year slowed his progress. At the end of the 1999 season, after 76 games for the Bombers (just seven of which were in his final year), he left the league scene behind and returned home to Albury.

Author - John Devaney