Justin Charles

Infobox afl player


firstname = Justin
lastname = Charles


birthdate = Birth date and age|df=yes|1970|9|28
birthplace =
originalteam = North Footscray Juniors
heightweight = 198cm / 97kg
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = 1989
debutteam = Footscray
debutopponent =
debutstadium =
playingteams = Footscray (1989-1993)

36 games, 24 goals

Richmond (1995-1998)

54 games, 38 goals
coach = notcoach
statsend = 2006
careerhighlights =

Justin Charles (born 28 September 1970) is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL.

Footscray career

Charles was recruited to the Footscray Football Club after winning an under-19s best and fairest with them, and his father John R. Charles, as well as his grandfather Norm Charles had played for the club in the past. He made his debut in 1989, however in the 5 seasons he spent at the club until 1993, he never could consolidate a position with spots for big players of his type competitive. Terry Wheeler, then coach of the Bulldogs, was willing to put him up for trade, however Charles quit the club and took a year off from football. He had played only 36 games for 24 goals with the club.

Richmond career

Charles took a year off football in 1994, in frustration, when he turned his hand to baseball, playing in the minor league with the Florida Marlins.

The former plumber was surprisingly picked up in the 1994 AFL Draft by Richmond and immediately impressed the club with his work ethic. He became a fairly prominent ruckman and in 1996's Brownlow Medal he polled 17 votes, with Michael Voss and James Hird, the winners, polling only 4 more.

Drugs controversy

Late in the 1997 AFL season, Charles became the first player to test positive to an anabolic steroid, boldenone. [http://www.ausport.gov.au/fulltext/2004/sportsf/s1257072.asp] The AFL tribunal suspended him for 16 matches, as at the time it did not have an anti-drug policy in place. Charles made a return to AFL football late in 1998 but injury led to his retirement shortly thereafter, finishing with 54 games and 38 goals for the Tigers.

References

* Hogan P: "The Tigers Of Old" , Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996

ee also

*List of Australian rules football incidents
*List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences

External links

* [http://www.yellowandblack.info/forums/showpost.php?p=38235&postcount=1 Feature story on Justin Charles and his first game back after his drug-related suspension - from the Yellow and Black Supporters Forum and Website]