DOB: 18 May 1975
Debut: Round 10, 1992 against North Melbourne at MCG
Last MFC Game: Round 22, 1997 against Fremantle at MCG
From: Carnegie/Tatura/Powelltown/Eastern Ranges
Number: 44 (1992-1993), 18 (1994), 1 (1995-1997)
Games: 47 (56 total)
Goals: 60 (66 total)
Career Statistics
Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
15 | 0 | 32 | 31.91 |
The former Victorian schoolboy representative and Teal Cup player was available to Melbourne under residential zoning rules, and after three years of negotiations Melbourne landed Charles in the last days before zones were abolished. An outstanding junior athlete, he turned his back on a professional running career to pursue football.
With Melbourne sitting second last on the ladder, Charles was given his senior debut less than a week after turning 17, and was an immediate hit with five goals on debut. His 1993 was less successful, playing just two games. At the end of that season he underwent an ankle reconstruction. He signed a three year contract before 1994, but began to have issues at the club. At one stage the club had to fly Charles to Melbourne for training to prove he was fit. He landed on the Junction Oval in a helicopter and was picked, but tore a calf muscle after kicking two goals and was out again.
Wrist injuries plagued Charles throughout 1995, breaking the bone three times during the year. The first came in the Demons Round 1 Ansett Cup loss to the Eagles. His wrist injury became infected, requiring hospitalisation, and a graft surgery failed, requiring a second operation. He also missed games at the start of the year with a foot injury. In 1996 he was out of the side with his wrist injury until Round 10, then played three matches before the issue reoccured and he missed the rest of the year. At the end of the year he only narrowly avoided being delisted due to his injury problems.
Charles only missed four games in 1997, but well down on form he was traded to Carlton for National Draft pick #39. He suffered a compound fracture of his leg during the first quarter of his first game after a teammate fell across him and never featured for the Blues again.
After a promising start to his rehabilitation, Charles lost heart and after he was sacked by the Blues after going missing for a week during the 1998 pre-season. He joined Woorinen and was a shock nomination for the 1999 Pre Season Draft. North Melbourne showed some interest, but when he failed to appear at a training session they withdrew. Instead, the ailing St Kilda took him with their last pick and he played eight games in 2000. During the Round 19, 2000 game against Melbourne, Charles was alleged to have called former teammate David Schwarz a racist before withdrawing his remarks.
Charles remained on the Saints list in 2001 but was suspended during the pre-season for missing training, and after four games for VFL side Springvale he suffered a hamstring injury and retired. Charles played for Lalbert from 2002 to 2006.
Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
1992 | 9 | 14 | 0 |
1993 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
1994 | 13 | 24 | 3 |
1995 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
1996 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
1997 | 18 | 17 | 0 |
Lists
Carlton
Indigenous Players
Most goals on debut
St. Kilda
Youngest Players
Media
Age - 22/05/1992
Football Record 1992 Grand Final
Age - 07/03/1994
Age - 07/04/1995
Age - 22/10/1995
Age - 26/06/1996
Age - 26/11/1996
Age - 15/10/1997
Age - 29/03/1998
Age - 02/02/1999
Age - 03/02/1999
Age - 08/12/1999
Age - 09/01/2000
Superfooty - 19/07/2000
The Age - 09/05/2001
AFANA News 2001
Links
Australian Rules Football Wiki profile
Blueseum profile
Demonland
Demonwiki image gallery
Wikipedia profile