DOOLAN, Ben

Ben Doolan was selected by Essendon with pick 20 in the 1992 Pre-season draft. He was a big money transfer from Sydney Swans and had high expectations placed upon him. He had been an outstanding junior footballer, winning the J. L. Williams Medal as Best and Fairest in the 1989 Schoolboy Championships, representing NSW.

He didn't play a senior game in 1993 and was unlucky with injuries when he did debut in 1994. He played 14 games his first season and only nine the following season. He started playing his best football in the last few games of 1995.

1996 saw Doolan's good form continue and he was among the Club's top possession winners that year. He finished fourth in the 1996 Best and Fairest, and received the Most Improved Player award for the year.

Tough as they come, with plenty of skill, Doolan was again frustrated in 1997 when a foot operation restricted him to only 11 games. He also played 11 games in 1998 and seven in his last season at Windy Hill, 1999. He was outstanding in the 1999 Reserves Grand Final win over St Kilda.

Unfortunately his run of injuries prevented Doolan from fulfilling his outstanding potential.

Doolan retired at the end of 1999 and returned to the Riverina. He has been the proprietor of bus operator Australian Transit Group since 2004.