Playing his first Sheffield Shield match of the summer, Doggett claimed 6-48 at the WACA Ground to help bowl Western Australia out for 307 in reply to the visitors' 215.
SA were then 0-6 when bad light stopped play on day two, trailing by 86 runs in a match between the competition's two winless teams.
On a day also interrupted by rain, Cameron Bancroft hit a composed 122 for WA in a match where most batters have struggled to settle in.
After getting out of the blocks fast on the opening evening, Bancroft was patient throughout on Wednesday with a slog sweep for six off Ben Manenti his main act of aggression.
But it was Doggett that stole the show, in his only Shield match before Australia's selectors name their squad for the first Test in Perth.
After a wayward opening night where he went for 0-28 from his eight overs, Doggett took 6-20 to keep South Australia in the game.
The 31-year-old drew the edges of Sam Whiteman, Hilton Cartwright, Matt Kelly and Liam Haskett to have them caught behind the wicket.
He also trapped Joel Curtis lbw for 36, and had Cameron Green out for a six-ball duck when the allrounder drove him straight to mid-off.
Called into Australia's Test squad as cover last summer, Doggett has taken 65 wickets at 23.04 in the past two Shield seasons.
Scott Boland will replace the injured Pat Cummins at Optus Stadium next week, but there is a battle to be Australia's next back-up quick if another bowler goes down.
Wednesday's form will no doubt help Doggett's cause, with the right-armer battling Michael Neser and Sean Abbott to be Australia's next reserve.
"There has been a bit of noise but I try not to think about it," Doggett said.
"It's obviously a bit different for me. All the talk has been about Pat and his back.
"I was really pleased with how I came back today. A bit fuller (than night one) and was able to get the nicks."
The other point of interest remains Green.
The allrounder has returned to bowling at full intensity in the nets, but is being kept on ice by Western Australia in this match.
He now has scores of 19, 24 and 0 to start the Shield summer, after being close to Australia's best batter playing at No.3 in the West Indies in July.
If Australia want the cover of an extra pace-bowling allrounder for the first Test, Green would likely need to bat at No.3 with Marnus Labuschagne the leading contender to open.
Officials expect Green to be back bowling in the next Shield round, which doubles as the last before the first Test in Perth on November 21.
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