Paddy Dowling returns to St Mary’s after one season with Geelong Amateur

After one dominant season in the Bellarine, one of the best forwards in the region has returned to his former club.

Patrick Dowling has returned to St Mary’s.

Prolific goalkicker Paddy Dowling has returned to St Mary’s after one season with Geelong Amateur.

Dowling kicked 47 goals in the Saints’ premiership year in 2022 and a further 39 majors in 2023 before crossing to Geelong Amateur in 2024.

The dangerous forward starred in the Bellarine league, booting 51 goals in 19 games for the Ammos but will call the Saints home again in 2025

Dowling has signed with the club along with former Saints player Charlie Lang just days after they secured

ex-VFL key defend

er Ryan Pendlebury – the brother of Collingwood champion Scott – and Ben Berry.

The St Mary’s premiership player told this publication in May that he left the Saints after falling out of love with footy, admitting he felt frustrated with himself in 2023 as spearhead Sam Dobson became the number one target.

But with Dobson departing the Saints for a playing coach role with his home club Koroit, Dobson will likely retain the role he had in 2022.

Lang heads to the Saints after winning a best and fairest with grand final side Finley in the Murray League.

He has a strong history with the Saints, playing in two under-18 premierships with club.

Lang is currently playing in the Northern Territory competition with PINT and spent two seasons with Labrador in the QAFL.

He managed 15 senior games with Newtown & Chillwell in 2019 and two for St Mary’s in 2018.

Dowling’s signing comes after the Saints lost Dion Johnstone, Harry Ling, Damian McMahon and Joe Maishman to the BFNL this off-season.

Originally published as Paddy Dowling returns to St Mary’s after one season with Geelong Amateur