For young midfielder Billy Dowling, many of his core memories growing up came from watching footy at Adelaide Oval. 

He would attend games with friends and family, dreaming that one day he would be on the other side of the fence, playing AFL in his home state. 

On Thursday, June 6, 2024, that dream became a reality.

Having spent 18 months on the Club’s list, Dowling toiled away at SANFL level, developing his game, before finally getting his chance in a prime-time Round 13 clash against Richmond. 

Reflecting on the night as part of AFC Media’s My Debut series, the 20-year-old said running onto Adelaide Oval as an AFL footballer was “the most surreal moment of his life.”

“Having a Thursday night prime-time game as your first game, especially at home, was really special,” Dowling said.

“It worked really well with all my mates being here, so I was able to get a good crew along to support me, which was so special.

“Growing up you watch so many games (at Adelaide Oval), so for it to be my turn (to play), heading into the Oval it was a bit of a pinch yourself moment.

“Then to do the warm-up, run out onto the field and actually be playing AFL footy on Adelaide Oval, it was the most surreal moment of my life.”

The two-hour build up to the game was, by his own admission, a blur, except for one moment that will stick in his memory forever.

Having completed his first warm-up on the ground, he returned to the changerooms to see his Mum Julia donning a bright Kuwarna coloured coat, with his number 31 expertly stitched onto the back of it.

“I actually didn’t know my Mum was going to wear it to the game, I think a friend had given it to her during the week and she kept it under wraps that should we be wearing it on the night,” Dowling said.

“I walked out into the rooms after the first warm-up and saw Mum front and centre wearing it, which was a funny moment.

“I really appreciate all the support she has given me along the way, and I thought it was very sweet of her to do, and a nice memory for our family from the night.”

After having a moment to “soak it in”, he said the match quickly became like any other. 

“The big focus for me was just going out there and playing my role,” Dowling said. 

“I did take a moment at the start to just soak it in, and be like I’m actually out here playing AFL footy, but once I got that first kick and tackle my mind was straight in the game and it just felt normal.

“Obviously the result didn’t go quite the way we had liked, but it was still a wonderful experience and something I’ll remember forever.”

No debut is complete without a special on-field moment, and Dowling got his midway through the final quarter.

In the middle of a late comeback, he gathered the ball close to the 50 metre arc and found himself with grass ahead.

He made the split-second decision to “have a ping”, and the rest was history.

“I grabbed the ball and turned and saw nobody in front of me, and thought ‘wow I’m going to have a ping here,’ ” Dowling said.

“Lucky enough the ball sailed through the big sticks and from there the emotions just took over for me.

“It was a pretty pivotal time in the game as well which added to it, and to be able to share the moment at home with the boys on the field and my friends and family off of it, it was very special.”

Kuwarna fell just short of making Dowling’s debut a winning one, going down to the Tigers by nine points. 

Despite being disappointed leaving the field, seeing a large group of his mates waiting for him in the rooms softened the blow, as he got to share his special night with the people that helped him get to the AFL.

“It was only a couple of years ago that I was playing footy with my mates for school, so having them all there in the rooms post game, it was a bit of a full circle moment,” Dowling said.

“They have been a massive part of my journey to get to the point of AFL footy and been behind me every step of the way, so to see their smiling faces after the game was a nice way to end it.”