Bruce Doull
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| Personal information | |
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| Birth | September 11, 1950 , |
| Recruited from | Jacana, Victoria |
| Playing career¹ | |
| Debut | March 5, 1969, Carlton Blues vs. South Melbourne, at Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| Team(s) | Carlton Blues 1969-1986
356 games, 22 goals |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 1986 season | |
| Career highlights | |
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Bruce Doull (born September 11, 1950 in Victoria, Australia) is a former champion Australian rules football player who played for the Carlton Football Club.
Wearing guernsy number 11 and nicknamed the "Flying Doormat" due to the matted appearance of the constantly disarranged long portions of his extreme "comb over" hairstyle, Doull was possibly the most popular player to play for Carlton, along with Alex Jesaulenko and Stephen Silvagni. He was recruited from Jacana at the tender age of 19. He was a grim, dour half-back flanker, Doull did his job without the slightest fuss and was totally reliable. Doull was a safe mark, a dependable kick and a footballer who rarely - if ever - made a mistake. Doull won himself a place in the heart of Carlton fans because of his on-field honesty and toil.
Doull, shy and extremely reserved, did not give interviews and always preferred to stay in the background. However, his record was extraordinary. He won Carlton's Best & Fairest in 1974, 1977, 1980 and 1984 and played in four Carlton premiership sides - 1972, 1979, 1981 and 1982 (in which he won the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground) as well as playing in the Grand Finals of 1973 and 1986. Doull was also a regular State of Origin representative.
He is often remembered as being harassed by Carlton scarf wearing streaker Helen D'Amico in the 1982 Grand Final between Carlton and Richmond.
Doull's trademark was his greying beard and the navy blue and white headband with which he kept his thinning long hair in place and his unflappable manner on-field. Never reported by the umpires for foul play he was a legend for his determination to play the ball rather than the man, rare in an era of occasionally brutal clashes. Only once did he appear to lose his temper.
In a match against Essendon played late in his career a frustrated opponent snatched off his ancient, faded headband and threw it into the crowd. Incensed, the lumbering Doull threw his opponent to the ground in a fury and had to be dragged away from the clash by his team mates. It was totally out of character, and the Carlton fans loved him even more after this uncharacteristic emotional outburst. It was the exceptional moment that proved he had a temper but deliberately kept it in check.
Bruce Doull was one of Australian football's greatest products. By the end of his career he had played 356 games and kicked just 22 goals over his 18-year career.
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| Preceded by Kevin Bartlett |
Norm Smith Medallist 1981 |
Succeeded by Maurice Rioli |
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