[2][3][4] Born in Cooma, New South Wales, he was a product of the Shoalhaven Tigers basketball program which has produced several NBL, WNBL, and NCAA players.

During his junior career, Dowdell represented Shoalhaven and NSW Country before being awarded a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport (2003 to 2005).

The Wildcats would go on to finish the season in seventh place with Dowdell receiving the club's Most Improved Player award.

During his time at the Thunder, the team had a record of 13 wins and 9 losses[13] and Dowdell was named as the SEABL Australian Youth Player of the Year.

After the NBL season, Dowdell played for the West Adelaide Bearcats where his team finished fourth and lost in the semi-finals.

In 2013, Dowdell joined the Canberra Gunners in the SEABL after a period away from basketball due to a degenerative hip injury.

[19] Following basketball, Dowdell played a number of seasons of Australian rules football with the Belconnen Magpies in the AFL Canberra competition[20] and was fourth in the Mulrooney Medal in 2019.

[21] At the end of 2011, the Adelaide Crows Football Club announced the signing of Dowdell's younger brother, Ben, to the rookie list.