When Jamie Charman announced his retirement from football today, it put an end to his three year struggle with injuries.
The big Queenslander established himself as one of the AFL’s premiere big men during his prime and leaves the game having made a significant impact throughout his decorated 129-game career with the Lions.
But not since Round 4 of 2009 had Charman been able to join his team-mates on the field for a senior game as recurring ankle and Achilles problems forced him to remain on the sidelines.
After a long and diligent rehabilitation program, he returned to the field for the first time in 18 months during the Lions Reserves’ most recent outing against the Gold Coast. However, after pulling up sore from half a game, Charman realised his body could no longer handle the rigours of playing AFL football.
“The boys were all really supportive and I was training hard and getting pumped about finishing the season off well,” Charman said.
“But I played that game with the Reserves and pulled up really sore.”
“So after a fair bit of thought, I sat down with (girlfriend) Holly last Sunday and pretty much told her that I was going to pull the pin. Then I spoke with Vossy on Monday and told him the same thing.”
“It was hard to come to that realisation initially, but once I’d made the decision, it became clear that it was the best thing for me.”
The 29 year-old informed Club officials and his team-mates earlier today of his decision and it came as no surprise to see all Lions players, coaches and staff turn out in force to watch him perform his final media conference.
It was certainly testament to Charman’s popularity and the esteem in which he is held at the entire Club.
The premiership ruckman said advising his team-mates and other Club officials was a particularly difficult part of the process.
“After spending 11 years here, this Club has become my family. So it’s tough when you have to tell your family that you’re not going to part of them anymore,” he said.
“I’ve met some really great people - from team-mates and staff to some great fans and supporters - who I’ll be sure to remain good friends with in the future.”
“But I’ll definitely miss that constant interaction with those guys. I’m also going to miss getting out there and competing. Those one-on-one battles are something that I have thrived on over the years.”
Charman will now direct his focus to life after football and will spent the coming weeks contemplating his next step.
“I’m pretty good with the decision right now, although it might hit me in a couple of weeks,” he said.
“I’ll spend some time exploring my options in the next couple of days and start figuring out what I’m going to do with myself.”
“I know I’m really going to enjoy the next chapter of my life. But I’ll certainly still look back and reflect on what has been a really enjoyable time at the Lions.”
JAMIE CHARMAN: A FOOTBALL HISTORY
A standout junior swimmer, Charman developed as a junior footballer with Sandgate before going on to make his AFLQ debut with the Northern Eagles as a 16 year-old.
He spent a brief six-month stint in Cairns and was selected to represent Queensland at the U18 National Championships where he was one of only three Queenslanders to earn All Australian honours.
Charman returned to Brisbane after the U18 carnival and was promptly drafted by the Lions under the AFL’s then developing market priority rule with selection No.29 at the 2000 National Draft.
He became the 10th youngest Lions player to debut when he earned a senior call-up against Fremantle at the Gabba in Round 5 and played his second senior AFL match in the now famous “if it bleeds, we can kill it” clash against Essendon at the Gabba.
While he watched from the sidelines as the Lions claimed an historic premiership with a 26-point win over Essendon in the 2001 AFL Grand Final, he proved a valuable member for the Lions Reserves in their 2001 QAFL premiership triumph.
Charman exceeded all expectations in his second AFL season, playing an integral role in the Lions’ ruck division and earning himself an AFL Rising Star nomination.
Despite playing 20 of the first 23 matches of 2002, Charman was left out of the Grand Final side against Collingwood to make way for returning ruckman Clark Keating.
The then 20-year-old handled the setback with such aplomb that Lions Captain Michael Voss was moved to praise him on Club Champion night for his team-first approach throughout the finals.
Charman went on to win the Club’s Best First Year Player award and became quickly recognised as one of the most promising young ruckmen in the AFL.
He took further strides after his breakthrough 2002 season by playing in all 26 senior matches of 2003 - including the Club’s history-making three-peat premiership side.
It was due reward for the big Queenslander who had helped carry the Lions ruck division at time throughout the year in the absence of the injured Beau McDonald and Clark Keating. His efforts were also rewarded by the Lions match committee with his first top ten placing in the Club Champion award.
His aggression and agility became an ever greater weapon for the Club in 2004 until a knee injury sustained in Round 17 against Adelaide prematurely ended his season - and his chances of playing in a second consecutive AFL Grand Final.
A combination of injuries and suspensions limited Charman to just nine games in 2005, but he returned to his influential best in 2006 and quickly established himself among the elite ruckmen of the AFL.
He averaged a career-best 13.3 disposals per game and kicked a personal best 12 goals for the season before suffering a shoulder injury against Essendon in Round 17 against Essendon which ultimately ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
Despite playing only 16 senior matches, Charman still managed to finish a career-best 6th in the Lions’ Club Champion award.
Following the retirements of fellow ruckmen Clark Keating and Beau McDonald over an 18-month period from the end of 2006 to the beginning of 2008, Charman shouldered the bulk of the Lions’ ruck load and helped develop young team-mate Matthew Leuenberger.
Charman earned the esteem of being selected in Queensland’s inaugural Team of the Year in 2007 and backed it up the following year with his second consecutive appearance.
He was also the only Queenslander selected in the AFL’s Hall of Fame Tribute match played in May of 2008 which showcased the best players in the competition. On that occasion, Charman teamed together with West Coast’s Dean Cox for the ‘Dream Team’ and took the ruck honours against his Victorian opponents.
Unfortunately, it proved one the finest - and final - individual achievements of his AFL career.
Charman played his final senior AFL match in Round 4 of 2009 when a seemingly badly sprained ankle against Collingwood at the Gabba ended up requiring a full reconstruction.
The same ankle forced him to miss the entire 2010 season, while his 2011 campaign was plagued with an ongoing Achilles complaint.
JAMIE CHARMAN - AT A GLANCE
AFL Games: 129
AFL Goals: 55
AFL Finals: 5
DOB: 16 July 1982
Recruited from: Sandgate / Northern Eagles (QLD)
Draft details: QLD Priority Pick No.29 - 2000 AFL National Draft
AFL debut: Lions v Fremantle (Gabba), Round 5 2001
Career highlights
Lions Reserves Premiership Player 2001
Lions Best Rookie 2002
AFL Rising Star Nomination 2002
Lions Premiership Player 2003
Lions Team of the Decade member 2006
Queensland Team of the Year 2007, 2008
AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match Dream Team representative 2008
