[1] Dolan was raised in Sydney's Sutherland Shire and started playing football at an elite level aged 14.
She played for the Sydney clubs of St George Budapest, Marconi Stallions, Gymea Bay, Ballina, Sutherland, Grange Thistle and Arncliffe Scots.
[2] She participated in the Australian team that contested the first Asian Cup in 1975 and the inaugural Women's World Invitational in Chinese Taipei in 1978.
[2] She was inducted into the Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame in 1999 and received the Queen Elizabeth II Australian Sports Medal.
[2] In 2016, football became the first major Australian sport to jointly name its prestigious awards event in honour of both a legendary female and male player – the Dolan Warren Awards – with Dolan honoured alongside national men's icon Johnny Warren.