Beau beats pain barrier

By Sarah Schwager
NOBLE Park teenager Beau Dowler received an early Christmas present on Saturday when he was selected by Hawthorn in the AFL National Draft despite being in a wheelchair following a serious car accident.
A car accident six weeks ago left Dowler with four fractures to the pelvis.
Doctors had told him he would not walk for at least three months, but now Dowler’s future is brighter after the Hawks used their round one pick, and sixth overall, to snare the rookie.
“It was a surprise. Especially after the accident, I thought I’d done my chances,” he said.
“But it’s been six weeks since the accident and I’m on crutches so I’m doing really well. There’s no more pain. I’m off the painkillers,” he said.
Dowler said he had been worried he had ruined his AFL chances but two weeks before the draft his doctor issued a report to clubs saying there were no longterm problems.
The 17yearold completed year 12 this year at Carwatha College in Noble Park but was exempt from his VCE exams after the accident involving himself and four of his schoolmates.
Dowler said on 20 October the car, in which he was a passenger, had turned left at an intersection as another car came through.
The collision forced the car into a pole, from where he was dragged out unconscious and taken to hospital.
“When it happened all I was worried about was how my mates were,” he said.
“It was only when I got to the hospital that it started to kick in that I might not be able to play footy.”
Dowler said he would meet with Hawthorn’s coaching staff in the next couple of weeks to work out a summer fitness program.
“I’m really happy to be with Hawthorn. All the people are really nice and have made me feel really welcome,” he said.
Dowler said his friends and family were really happy that he had been drafted and also that he was staying in Melbourne.
“That was a big priority for them,” he said.
He said with the Hawks moving to Waverley Park, it would only be a couple of minutes drive from Noble Park, meaning he will have to get his driver’s licence when he turns 18 this month.
“At the start I was a bit touchy about getting into a car but now I’ve got to make my own way to the club so I want to get (my licence) as soon as possible,” he said.