Ben Doolan: Footy Grit Turned Business Grit

Ben Doolan’s story isn’t your average ex-AFL tale. Yeah, he copped more than his fair share of injuries, but what he did after footy is what really sets him apart. These days, he’s the man behind Australian Transit Group a serious player in the bus and transport game across the country.

He Was Built for Footy

Picked up by Essendon in the 1992 Pre-season Draft, Doolan had the kind of talent you don’t ignore. He’d already won the J.L. Williams Medal as the best on ground in the Schoolboy Championships and represented New South Wales with pride. By the time he hit Essendon, expectations were high.

Injuries made sure his path wasn’t smooth. He didn’t get a senior game in 1993, but by ‘94 he was out there wearing the sash, playing 14 games that season. The next few years were hit and miss with injuries, but when he was on, he made it count. In ‘96, he finished fourth in the club’s Best and Fairest and was named Most Improved. Not bad for a bloke who just couldn’t get a clean run.

Then He Got to Work

After hanging up the boots in ‘99, Doolan went back to his roots in the Riverina. But he didn’t go quietly. In 2004, he kicked off Australian Transit Group. It wasn’t flashy just a few buses, a big work ethic, and a focus on doing things properly.

Fast forward to today and ATG is a heavyweight. School runs, mining sites, regional town routes, event shuttles you name it, they do it. They’ve got boots on the ground across WA, SA, Victoria, and NSW. And all of it started with a bloke who knows a thing or two about showing up, playing hard, and backing his team.

No Nonsense. Just Results.

Ben Doolan isn’t after headlines. He’s not trying to be the face of some flashy startup. He’s building something that keeps regional Australia moving. Kids getting to school. Workers getting to sites. Towns staying connected. That’s the stuff that matters and Doolan’s making it happen.

The Cultivator’s Take

This is the kind of story we back. No fluff. No shortcuts. Just a former footballer who took the same grit he had on the field and built a business that delivers every day. Doolan’s proof that you don’t need to be in the spotlight to make a serious impact.

Ben Doolan didn’t just play the game. He built one of his own – and he’s still winning.

Image Credit: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/ben-doolan-for-essendon-celebrates-in-the-afl-reserves-news-photo/1011375