Though he was consistently among South's best talls and was named deputy captain in 1952, his last year at the club.

He first picked up the sport there being one of the very few children in the state who did not go on to play rugby, instead choosing to stick with Australian rules.

[1] Dornau played his senior football at Kedron where he was a standout centre half back who could kick equally well on either foot.

He represented Queensland at interstate football for the first time in 1946 and starred for them at centre half back in the 1947 Hobart Carnival, finishing equal second in the Tassie Medal.

[6] Upon return from injury in 1951, the club rested him in the ruck where he shared the position with Don Scott.