Billy Dowling

Billy Dowling
Dowling at a 2026 Gather Round
Personal information
Full name William Edward Dowling
Born (2004-07-01) 1 July 2004 (age 22)
Adelaide, Australia
Original teams North Adelaide (SANFL), Walkerville Football Club (Adelaide Footy League)
Draft No. 43, 2022 national draft
Debut Round 13, 2024, Adelaide vs. Richmond, at Adelaide Oval
Height 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Adelaide
Number 31
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2023– Adelaide 13 (9)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 22, 2026.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

William Edward Dowling (born 1 July 2004) is a professional Australian rules footballer who was selected by the Adelaide Football Club as the number 43 pick in the 2022 AFL draft. He previously played for North Adelaide in the SANFL at amateur level.

AFL career

Dowling was picked up by Adelaide at pick number 43 in the 2022 national draft from the North Adelaide Football Club.

He shone bright in the SANFL for Adelaide, but struggled to move forward into the senior side due to the strong midfield group of Jordan Dawson, Rory Laird, and Matt Crouch. In July 2023, Dowling added to his rookie contract by signing on until the end of 2026.

After an impressive run of form, and an injury to fellow on-baller Matt Crouch, Dowling's long-awaited debut was announced on 4 June 2024, two days prior to Adelaide's round 13 game against Richmond at the Adelaide Oval. Dowling debuted with 17 disposals, one goal, and nine marks, to finish as the sixth-highest rated Crow of the night (according to AFL Fantasy) in a disheartening loss for the club. After Dan Curtin, Dowling was the second Crow to make his AFL debut in 2024.

Dowling's opportunities at AFL level in 2025 were few as the Crows won the minor premiership. He made a single appearance in the round 24 match against North Melbourne, kicking two goals, but was left out of the squad for the finals series.

In 2026, Dowling capitalised on a late-season opportunity in the round 21 match against Essendon, kicking three goals from 18 disposals on the wing and earning coaches' votes in his 12th senior appearance.

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 22, 2026.

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2023Adelaide31 0——————————————0
2024Adelaide31 941955815348170.40.110.66.417.05.31.90
2025Adelaide31 1206814202.00.06.08.014.02.00.00
2026Adelaide31 33323214415111.01.07.77.014.75.03.70
Career 13941248721165280.70.39.56.716.25.02.20

References

  1. ↑ Adelaide Football Club [@adelaide_fc]; (8 August 2025). "not sure if all these middle names are real or not 😭". Retrieved 20 September 2025 – via Instagram.
  2. 1 2 "Billy Dowling | AFL". afc.com.au. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  3. ↑ Keating, Mitch (30 July 2023). "Adelaide reveal trio of contract extensions in wake of Showdown win". Zero Hanger.
  4. ↑ "Crows mid out for season, uncertainty over key duo". AFL. 3 June 2024.
  5. ↑ "Dowling to debut". afc.com.au. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "Adelaide Crows v Richmond – Player Stats". AFL. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  7. ↑ Whiting, Michael (6 June 2024). "Yellow and whack: Inspired Tigers put Crows' season on life support". AFL. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  8. ↑ "Nicks backs emerging stars ahead of Kangaroos clash". afc.com.au. 22 August 2025.
  9. ↑ Faulkner, Will (2 August 2026). "Crows peck on top four door with thumping win over lowly Dons as debutants star". Fox Footy.
  10. ↑ Harvey, Daniela (3 August 2026). "Coaches' votes R21 v Essendon: Key forward claims best-on-ground honours". afc.com.au.
  11. ↑ "Billy Dowling". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Guernsey numbers locked in for 2023". afc.com.au. 6 December 2022.