Player Watch Billy Dowling

[Peter Doherty]

BOG again in SANFL - 30 disposals, 5 marks, 7 tackles, 8 clearances, 5 inside-50s and a goal

Would love a proper explanation from Nicks why Dowling hasn't been given a game this season. Rankine and likely AhChee out post-bye, its high time Dowling gets a proper crack at AFL level

I didn't see the game myself, what did you like most about his game yesterday?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Sadly I think Billy is a tweener.

Not strong enough to play as an inside midfielder in the AFL and not quick enough to play on the wing or as a high half forward. Nevertheless I would be quite happy for Billy to be given a few games in the second half of the season.

I would love Billy to prove me wrong just like Cooky has proven me wrong (after 4 long years).

We will never really know if we refuse to play him when he is consistently in our best sanfl players.

Surely we should find out one way or the other.

Could easily replace an out form Keays.

 

[Cromulant]

We will never really know if we refuse to play him when he is consistently in our best sanfl players.

Surely we should find out one way or the other.

Could easily replace an out form Keays.

Could easily replace Keays, Pedlar or Taylor.

But its the former who needs the biggest rocket.

 

[Mutineer]

Sadly I think Billy is a tweener.

Not strong enough to play as an inside midfielder in the AFL and not quick enough to play on the wing or as a high half forward. Nevertheless I would be quite happy for Billy to be given a few games in the second half of the season.

I would love Billy to prove me wrong just like Cooky has proven me wrong (after 4 long years).

Tom Lynch wasn't quick and like Tommy Billy Dowling has a massive tank to play the high half forward interconnector role and similarly he has an inherent ability to sniff out a goal...
I'd like to at least try him in a similar role in the AFL before he's consigned to the scrapheap.

 

[Cromulant]

Tom Lynch wasn't quick and like Tommy Billy Dowling has a massive tank to play the high half forward interconnector role and similarly he has an inherent ability to sniff out a goal...
I'd like to at least try him in a similar role in the AFL before he's consigned to the scrapheap.

Tommy was a very very smart, hardworking footballer. Not sure Billy quite has that in him, but its worth a try.

 

[Jcpdragonx]

Tommy was a very very smart, hardworking footballer. Not sure Billy quite has that in him, but its worth a try.

rubbish, dowling works his arse off. was able to get into good spots to hit the scordboard in 2024

 

[cmndstab]

I think the reality is that Dowling is a midfielder, and we don't seem to see a spot for him. Given that we can't even seem to find midfield minutes for a player like Rachele who is crying out for time in there, it seems that the likes of Dowling and Edwards are just square pegs in the round hole that is our club.

 

[Scorpus]

We have too many midfielders, and not enough high quality midfielders

At AFL level you can't just play 8 ball winning midfielders in the team. You can maybe have 4 of those players, but the rest need other roles. Wing, half back, half forward.

Dowling is not good enough to get a primary midfield role, which is his best position, but he's also not good enough to play any additional roles in the team.

And we have a few players like that, Edwards looks to be another. Just not quite hovering at the level of quality to make a difference on the team, so we stick with the incumbents in that role (eg Soligo, Berry and Peatling)

But because we have so many of these types - ranging from the guys just good enough to be AFL quality, to just slightly below that level - we end up with a not particularly good midfield, but actually quite a few mids on the list