Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Charles John Clarke Coles

Known as
Charlie Coles

Nickname
Dummy

Born
26 December 1878

Place of birth
Geelong, VIC (3220)

Died
20 August 1942 (aged 63)

Place of death
Geelong, VIC (3220)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 147d
Last game: 25y 182d

Height and weight
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 83 kg

Senior clubs
Geelong

Recruited from
Newtown & Chilwell (1897)

State of origin
VIC

Charlie Coles

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
GeelongV/AFL1897-1898, 1900-190472811.1360%0
Total1897-1898, 1900-190472811.1360%0

AFL: 187th player to appear, 3,289th most games played, 1,326th most goals kickedGeelong: 24th player to appear, 237th most games played, 95th most goals kicked

Originally from Chilwell, Charles 'Dummy' Coles was an extremely effective follower whose career with Geelong was undermined, and ultimately ruined, by injury. Strong overhead, and exceptionally mobile, he teamed particularly well with fellow ruckman Henry 'Tracker' Young, and the pair were at the forefront of many of Geelong's best moves. Coles was a fine kick, and was sometimes asked to fill in at full forward, which he normally did to good effect. He made his VFL debut in the competition's opening round in 1897, and had played a total of 72 senior games and kicked 81 goals by the time his career was brought to an end by a badly broken leg sustained in the round eight clash with Collingwood in 1904. He had earlier been forced to miss numerous matches through various injuries, the worst of which was probably the broken arm he suffered in 1902 (ironically, also against Collingwood).

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.