Ex-Hatherleigh Eagle Jake Dowdy has made the switch from the Mid South Eastern Football League, returning to his Western Border roots.
After playing a lot of his football with South Gambier, Dowdy decided a move was on the cards and transferred to MSEFL club Mount Burr, where he played for seven years.
It was a successful stretch as a Mozzie which saw Dowdy playing in grand finals and having the honour of captaining his side to premiership glory.
“I loved being out there at Mount Burr and had a great time,” he said.
After his time at Mount Burr, Dowdy found himself wanting to test the waters in a coaching capacity, where the opportunity became available at the Hatherleigh Eagles.
“I wanted to get into coaching and it was not the most comfortable (situation taking on the leadership position) with all my mates,” he said.
“So, the opportunity to coach came up at Hatherleigh where I put in my application and was successful to get the job.
“It was a three-year term, but one of those was halted due to the COVID year.”
After two good seasons at the helm, one of which included playing in the 2022 Mid South Eastern grand final, Dowdy called time on the top job at the end of the season.
“I have no bad blood with the club and it was a great club to be involved with,” he said.
“I would have liked to stay there, but with a young family it was hard during the week traveling.”
After a few weeks and some time away from the football field, Dowdy put pen to paper at East Gambier alongside Keith Ransom to be named as joint senior Bulldogs coaches, where he is excited about what the 2023 season holds for the side.
“It is just another new challenge and it is a bit easier for me with my family,” he said.
Dowdy is also looking forward to coaching alongside a football master in Ransom, who he said had a lot of knowledge about the game and its players.
“When I was at South, he was coaching West, so I did not have lots to do with him,” he said.
“He speaks very well, knows his stuff and I am really excited to work with him.”
Still having plenty of playing time left in the legs, Dowdy will be looking forward to getting the Bulldogs pre-season under way, while still trying to recruit new players to the club.
Dowdy said it was hard trying to recruit new players while any uncertainty surrounded over the SANFL decision on the two leagues, with some players sitting on the fence awaiting the outcome.
“We will just have to see what happens when the decision is made,” he said.
