Australian Football

After commencing in the Footscray under nineteens in 1987 Justin Charles made his reserves debut the following year before progressing to the seniors in 1988. Quite strong and mobile, he was good overhead and could operate either as a ruckman or key forward. However, he struggled to establish himself at the Western Oval and managed just 36 games and 24 goals in five seasons.

In 1994 Charles temporarily gave football away in order to concentrate on his second sporting love, baseball. However, after failing to make the grade in the United States with the Florida Marlins he returned to Australia and the 1995 season found him fronting up with Richmond where he was a key factor in the Tigers qualifying for the finals. His four season stint with Richmond saw him add 54 AFL games and 38 goals to his respective career tallies, whilst producing the best and most consistent football of his career, particularly in 1995. That said, he also incurred an eighteen week suspension late in the 1997 season for taking a banned anabolic steroid. He did return to football in 1998 but it would be fair to maintain that he ended his career under something of a cloud.

Author - John Devaney