Doull, shy and extremely reserved, did not give interviews; instead, he always preferred to stay in the background. He won Carlton’s Best & Fairest in 1974, 1977, 1980, and 1984; played in four Carlton premiership sides: 1972, 1979, 1981, and 1982; won the Norm Smith Medal in 1981; and also played in the losing Grand Finals of 1973 and 1986. Doull was also a regular State of Origin representative. In 2009, The Australian nominated Doull as one of the 25 greatest footballers never to win a Brownlow Medal.

He is often remembered as being harassed by Carlton scarf–wearing streaker Helen D’Amico in the 1982 Grand Final between Carlton and Richmond. This incident was the focus of an installment of the Toyota Memorable Moments advertisement (with D’Amico appearing at the end), and is captured in Jamie Cooper’s painting The Game That Made Australia, commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport. Doull and D’Amico posed for a photo together 25 years later, making it clear they had long since settled their disagreements.

Only once did he lose his temper. In a match against Hawthorn, he was tackled around the neck by Kevin Ablett. Bruce chased after Ablett, with the commentator saying “Bruce Doull has gone berserk”. Contrary to stories told, he did not have his headband stolen in that incident. The game where his headband was removed was against Essendon in 1983, late in his career. A frustrated Cameron Clayton snatched off his ancient, faded headband and his team-mate Tony Buhagiar ended up with it and threw it into the crowd at VFL Park. Contrary to stories told, he did not go berserk in this incident. These two incidents were in effect combined and recreated in his Toyota Memorable Moments advertisement, except that he remained his usual docile self when he was supposed to lose his temper.

By the end of his career, he had played 356 games – then a club record – and since surpassed only by Craig Bradley. Doull holds the current club record for most consecutive games played, with 162 matches played between 1971 and 1978; he actually missed two club games due to representing Victoria in interstate matches during this streak, but the AFL has formally included such games within a player’s consecutive games streak following an amendment to its interpretation in December 2012. Doull kicked just 22 goals over his 18-year career.