Weekly Times | BARELY halfway through the season Merrivale’s Jet Dowie is on track to surpass a personal best in the Warrnambool and District league this Saturday.
Dowie has booted 68 goals this season and needs only three more to eclipse his previous best tally of 70, set last year.
It’s not Dowie’s first stellar year in front of the big sticks. He kicked 69 and 58 goals in 2012 and 2011, respectively, for Allansford before crossing to Merrivale.
Dowie said his first, full preseason in “six or so years” had contributed to him reaching the mark at such a frenetic pace.
“I’m just one of them fellas that gets injured a lot,” he said.
“It’s probably the first time, since I’ve been a permanent forward, that I’ve been fully fit.”
Merrivale is perched on top of the ladder after 10 rounds with nine wins, as it attempts to go back-to-back after defeating Panmure in last year’s grand final.
The club’s first loss this season came against Dennington, which is currently second, in Round 3 — the only time this year Dowie has been kept goal-less.
A bag of 13 majors over the weekend, in his side’s 172-point thrashing of South Rovers, was Dowie’s second biggest haul of the year. He kicked 14 majors against Timboon Demons last month and said the team hit its straps after that win.
Dowie is on track to hit 100 goals with eight rounds remaining, but his first priority was gaining the team September success for Merrivale.
