Australian Football

Nicknamed ‘Tiger’, Harold Dowling’s approach to the game was in keeping with his nickname. Never flashy and not even particularly skilful he more than compensated for these ostensible deficiencies by his fiery, combative approach which in its way was similar to that espoused by the Big V’s Ted Whitten or South Australia’s Neil Kerley. His senior playing career got underway in 1955 at East Devonport at the same time as Darrel Baldock, but after just 3 games he relocated with his family to the Burnie region and was cleared to Cooee.

Highlights of Dowling's time with the Bulldogs included premierships in 1961, 1964 and 1965, plus a state title in 1964. He won the club’s best and fairest player award in 1970 while in 1971-2 he served as captain-coach. He retired as a player at the end of the 1973 season having amassed 295 senior grade matches, a tally which included 21 first and second eighteen intrastate matches. In 1974 and 1975 he was non-playing coach of Wynyard and oversaw a premiership in the latter season.

Author - John Devaney