Doug Searl

Who is Doug Searl?

Doug Searl is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and Collingwood in the Victorian Football League.

Searl started his career with Collingwood in 1966 and played mostly as a centre half forward. He spent two and a bit seasons at Collingwood, including playing in the 1966 VFL Grand Final, which Collingwood lost to St Kilda by one point. During the 1968 VFL season Searl crossed to Fitzroy and had an immediate impact as a forward, kicking 31 goals in his eight games that year. In 1969, Searl topped Fitzroy's goalkicking with 68 goals which was the fourth most in the VFL that season and the best tally by a Fitzroy player in over three decades. He spent the rest of his career as a centre half back, playing his last game in 1976.

Searl continued to be involved in football as a coach and steered the Fitzroy Under-19 team to the 1982 premiership. In 1991 and 1992 he coached Port Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football Association.

Searl's father Sid Searl played for Port Melbourne in the 1940s, kicking 12 goals on debut, against Sandringham Football Club before being dropped the next week.