His first season out of junior football may not have gone to plan for 19-year-old ruckman Boston Dowling, but he and his family had cause to celebrate last Friday afternoon.
The Shepparton product made his VFL debut for Collingwood in its match against Sydney at the SCG.
Collecting seven disposals, three marks, four tackles and 15 hit-outs Dowling more than held his own in his first game at VFL level.
In 2023, Dowling decided to switch from the Murray Bushrangers to the Oakleigh Chargers in the Coates Talent League, and the move paid dividends.
Dowling averaged 10.9 disposals, 1.8 marks, 1.7 tackles and 13.5 hit-outs across 11 games.
The emerging ruckman’s performances for the Chargers gave him a sniff of being taken in the 2023 AFL Draft; however, it wasn’t meant to be.
This season, Dowling returned to the Chargers as a top-age player (signing on to be a part of the Magpies’ VFL squad for 2024 as well), playing two games before being struck down with an injury.
This second piece of adversity in such a short space of time would have tested Dowling’s resolve, but he treated his rehab program diligently and reaped the rewards on Friday as his family got to watch him play his first game of semi-professional football.
“It was an unreal experience,” Dowling said.
“Playing alongside AFL players like Reef McInnes, he is a weapon.
“They got around me no matter if they were AFL or VFL listed; they all got around me and supported me.
“The travel part of it as well was (great), going up to Sydney was unreal.”
In his first game in the black and white, Dowling was given a tough assignment to face gun ruckman Peter Ladhams (53 AFL games) and fellow AFL-listed Swan Lachlan McAndrew (two AFL games).
“I ended up being the only ruckman on the day for us as we had a few injuries and players going down,” he said.
“Ended up running in there for the majority of the time.
“I competed all day and fought hard.
“Thought I held my own against their guys Ladhams and McAndrew.”
Dowling missed the majority of the 2024 season with a back stress fracture.
He said that with the benefit of hindsight, he had found a silver lining to his 14-week rehab.
“I took it as a positive to get bigger and stronger; I got in the gym and put on some size — five kilos,” he said.
“It was good to focus on myself and get better at that physical aspect to get stronger and compete against bigger bodies in the VFL.
“It was a bit of a reward when I got back playing for all the hard work that went into it.”
Like many players before him, Dowling noticed a significant shift in the speed and physicality from elite junior to professional football.
Fortunately for Dowling, he had a Shepparton compatriot by his side during his VFL debut, with potential 2024 AFL draftee and Murray Bushranger Oliver Warburton playing his second match for the Magpies.
“Olly and I used to play back in primary school,” he said.
“He used to play with my brother a fair bit, so we are really good friends, and it was unreal playing with him.
“Obviously, the Shepp lads connection is there, which was unreal.
“We got around each other out on the ground, which was good.”
Warburton backed up his strong VFL debut the weekend prior with another good showing, finishing the match with 12 disposals.
Mansfield’s Harry Mahoney also performed well for the Magpies, collecting 18 touches and three tackles.
This weekend’s match against Brisbane is Collingwood’s last VFL game for the year.
At the conclusion of the Magpies’ season, Dowling will return to the Chargers for the final few games of the Coates Talent League and finals.