Introduction Bullocking Queenslander Jamie Charman is one of the competition’s most intimidating ruckmen. The Lions’ big man has suffered some injury setbacks throughout his career but is widely regarded for his aggressive attack on both the ball and the man. Charman’s height and agility has also proven effective when moved forward. Background • Charman moved from Brisbane to Maryborough at the age of six and played junior football at Sandgate – the former home of dual AFLQ Grogan Medallist Don Smith, whom after the Lions’ Most Professional Player is named. • A standout junior swimmer, he finished his education at the rugby stronghold of Nudgee College in 1999, was a member of the Northern Raiders’ U18 premiership side and made his AFLQ debut with the Northern Eagles as a 16 year-old. • He moved to Cairns in the first six months of 2000 to study primary teaching, yet continued playing football with the Cairns Saints and North Queensland. • Charman was one of three Queensland players to earn All-Australian honours at the U18 national championships along with eventual AFL No.1 draft selection Nick Riewoldt and Michael Davis who was drafted by Essendon. • He returned to Brisbane after the U18 carnival and played the last five games of the season with the Northern Eagles in the AFLQ competition, including the Grand Final. • He was drafted by the Lions under the AFL’s then developing market priority rule with selection No.29 at the 2000 National Draft. 2001 • Charman became the 10th youngest Brisbane Lions player to debut when he earned a senior call-up against Fremantle at the Gabba in Round 5. He didn’t see a lot of match time coming off the bench Beau McDonald and was subsequently dropped the following week. • He received a second chance in the now famous Round 10 clash against Essendon at the Gabba but failed to return to the seniors for the remainder of the year. • He was diagnosed with a foot stress fracture in late July and missed a large chunk of the AFLQ season. • He kicked five goals for the Lions Reserves upon his return from injury and played brilliantly throughout the AFLQ Finals Series. He suffered an eye injury early in the Reserves come-from-behind Grand Final victory against Southport. 2002 • Charman exceeded all expectations in his second AFL season, playing an integral role in one of the AFL’s strongest ruck divisions and earning an AFL Rising Star Nomination. • Such was his form that he kept Lions’ No.1 premiership ruckman Clark Keating out of the senior side from Round 13 until Beau McDonald was hurt on the eve of the finals. • Despite playing 20 of the first 23 matches in the senior team, Charman was left out of the 2002 Grand Final side when Keating’s return to form was too hard to ignore for team selectors. • 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 remained pleased with the fact that he had made such a strong impact in only his second season. 2003 • Charman took further strides after his promising 2002 season by playing in all 26 senior matches – 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 rewarded by the Lions match committee with his first top ten placing in the Club Champion award. 2004 • Charman physicality and agility helped cement his role as the team’s No.1 ruckman in the early stages of the season. • His aggression got the better of him in Round 8 and he was handed a two match suspension from the AFL Tribunal for striking. They were the first senior matches he had missed in almost two full seasons. • He returned to help steer the Lions to another finals series until a clash of knees with Adelaide’s Matthew Clarke at a centre square bounce in Round 17 prematurely ended his season. • The knee injury cruelled Charman’s hopes of another Grand Final appearance and he was forced to watch from the sidelines as the Lions were defeated by Port Adelaide in the premiership decider. 2005 • Charman’s absence from the senior side was more pronounced in 2005 when he missed a total of 13 matches through injury and suspension. • He was suspended for two matches following the Club’s infamous Round 1 clash with St Kilda at the Gabba before picking up what was initially diagnosed as a corked calf against Hawthorn in his return match. • As it turned out, the mobile big man actually had a fracture in his lower leg which sidelined him for an extended period of time. • Charman found his way back into the senior side towards the end of the season but managed only four matches before he was suspended again – this time for striking against Hawthorn. • It proved an altogether frustrating season for Charman who managed only nine senior matches. 2006 • Charman bounced back to his influential best at the beginning of 2006 and had soon established himself among the elite ruckmen of the AFL. • He missed only one match through injury during the first 17 Rounds, averaged a career-best 13.3 disposals per game and kicked a personal best 12 goals for the season. • However, a collision with Essendon’s David Hille in Round 17 at Telstra Dome resulted in Charman requiring shoulder surgery which ultimately ruled him out for the remainder of the season. • Despite playing only 16 senior matches, Charman still finished a career-best 6th in the Club Champion award. 2007 • Charman returned from off-season shoulder surgery to feature prominently in the Club’s 2007 NAB Cup campaign as a ruckman/key forward option until he suffered an Achilles strain late in the pre-season competition. • The Lions’ premier ruckman returned by Round 4 of the regular season and went on to play 17 senior matches – his most since 2003. • He collected a career-high 21 disposals against the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba and became a driving force behind the team’s mid-season surge which saw the Club win five games in a row and push for finals action. • He averaged over 12 disposals per game and earned the esteem honour of being selected in Queensland’s inaugural Team of the Year. 2008 • Charman’s importance to the Lions team became even greater when dual premiership ruckman Beau McDonald announced his shock retirement on the eve of the 2008 NAB Cup competition. • McDonald’s retirement coupled with the Club’s trading of young ruckman Cameron Wood meant that Charman was forced to shoulder the bulk of the ruck load together with second year ruckman Matthew Leuenberger. • Although severely restricted through injury for much of the season, Charman managed to play 21 of a possible 22 senior matches. • He was the only Queenslander selected in the AFL’s Hall of Fame Tribute match in May which showcased the best players in the competition. He teamed together with West Coast’s Dean Cox in the Dream Team and took the ruck honours against his Victorian opponents. • He held the No.1 ruck mantle throughout the season and was also used up forward on occasions to great effect. • He was named on the interchange bench in the Queensland Team of the Year for the second consecutive season among six other Lions players.2009 • Charman’s pre-season preparations were interrupted by a variety of injury setbacks (knee, hand) yet he appeared in the Club's season opener against the West Coast Eagles at the Gabba. • He badly sprained his ankle in the first half of the Lions' Round 4 clash against Collingwood at the Gabba which later required a full reconstruction. • His 2009 campaign ended prematurely after only three matches and he was unfortunately forced to watch from the sidelines as his team-mates made their way back to the AFL Finals for the first time since 2004.
I’ve been making sure that I am at least being of some use around the Club.Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 11:03AM
I really wish there was something new that I could tell everyoneWednesday, June 02, 2010 - 3:07PM
The centre clearances are even more critical at the SCG considering the ground is so small.Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 5:20PM
I am personally looking forward to the ruck duel this Saturday night.Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - 6:05PM
Jamie Charman will begin the 2010 season on the sidelines after injuring his ankle.Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 3:23AM
Young Brisbane ruckman Jamie Charman talks to afl.com.au after the Lions` thrahing of Port Adelaide at the Gabba in Round 7.Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - 2:34PM
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