Above: Dowsett is chaired from the field after a best-on-ground performance in his 300th match. 67572
By Gavin Staindl
ROC stalwart Kable Dowsett played his 300th game for his beloved club on Saturday, but the rare milestone also signalled the final chapter in what was an inspiring recovery from a life-threatening illness.
Three years ago, Dowsett, 39, wasn’t thinking about playing his 300th, nor was he even thinking about football – all that mattered to Dowsett was surviving.
Only weeks after watching the birth of his first child, the ROC legend was stretched from the ROC football ground after splitting his hip in three places.
Days later, Dowsett was diagnosed with multiple myeloma – a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow.
“When I was diagnosed there were all sorts of things going on and it wasn’t just a matter of it being the end of my career, but the end of my life,” Dowsett said.
“My son, Harper, was born just 18 days before that (injuring myself) and it was the spectrum of life – first the beauty of life, then the spectrum of death just around the corner.
“I asked the doctors to ‘tell me what to do and I’ll do it’ but it was my son who was probably the main motivation through that entire time. But I never thought I’d return to football. I said to Dave Turner as he was stretchering me off the field, ‘that’s it, I’ll never play again’.”
But on Saturday, a smiling Harper watched as his dad fulfilled a dream by playing his 300th game for ROC.
“Basically, that’s always what I wanted to do (play 300 games),” Dowsett said. “Before I got crook, that’s where I wanted to get too and when I broke my hip I thought ‘well, that idea is shot’ and I didn’t think I’d get an opportunity again.”
But Dowsett did get another opportunity. After winning his two-year battle with cancer, Dowsett returned to the oval determined to play his 300th.
“Last year I came down to help out with the running, started feeling alright and I said I might as well come back and start playing again. Then I started thinking there is a chance of getting the 300th,” Dowsett said.
“It is definitely a significant milestone for me because not only have I had the illness, but I’ve also had a lot of injuries.
“Knee reconstructions, shoulder reconstructions … I probably would have played my 300th six years ago if it wasn’t for all of them.”
The two-time premiership player said while he was playing with an unfamiliar side of new teammates, he was loving every moment of his return to football.
“I just love playing footy,” Dowsett said.
“When I turned up for pre-season, I didn’t know many people but I’m enjoying running around with the young blokes.
“The club has got a bright future with all the guys coming through, but I’m just enjoying getting a couple of kicks.
“I was very, very rusty when I started but the coach put me down back and the ball comes down there a bit these days so I am getting a few touches.”
