Jack Charleston has won every game he has played in for Williamstown this season. 85361_02 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By ADEM SARICAOGLU
FOR much of his recent footballing life, injuries have cruelly held back Williamstown youngster Jack Charleston.
The 2011 Western Jets best and fairest winner struggled to get onto the park throughout his bottom year in the TAC Cup as injuries continued to take their toll.
There was even one game where he played with a broken hand, but the 19-year-old says those days are now well and truly behind him.
“At the moment I’m all right,” Charleston said.
“I had a few soft tissue injuries at the start of the year, had a small strained hamstring and had a corked quad but that’s about it this year.
“I had a pretty horrid bottom year of TAC Cup where I got injured every two or three weeks and struggled to string games together.
“But I got that all out of my system and hopefully with the strong pre-season I’ve put in I can put all the soft tissue injuries behind me and get on with it.”
Charleston says his first pre-season in senior footy was unlike anything else he experienced as a junior.
“The pre-season was fierce but it all pays off because it’s a long season and once you get to finals time you really do appreciate all the extra running and weights you do,” Charleston said.
“Obviously you’re going to get a few strains and a few niggles here and there but all in all it’s been great and I haven’t really had anything serious, touch wood.”
Charleston has spent most of the year in Williamstown’s development team but managed to break into the senior team in July and took part in the Seagulls’ thrilling two-point win over Werribee.
Remarkably, all of the 13 games Charleston has played in this season have been wins for the Seagulls.
He made his VFL debut in 2011 when the Seagulls gave him an opportunity as 23rd man in a hotly contested game against North Ballarat.
“I was pretty nervous before the game, the step up was quite big,” Charleston said.
“I got a few kicks running around a little bit like a headless chook, didn’t really know what to do a couple times, but I thought I held myself OK.”
Since making the step up to weekly senior footy Charleston has managed to fit in nicely, but says the level of footy has increased from his TAC Cup days.
When asked what the difference was, Charleston said “just the bigger bodies and I think there’s more structures in place”.
“I think mostly it’s a bit of a mental game more than anything, it’s a bit more developed in that area.
“It’s a big job, but I think it’s one that I can handle and I’ve managed pretty well I think.”
Charleston has settled into a new role across half back this season, and senior coach Peter German says his call-up to senior footy has been a successful one.
“His performances in the development team this year have been outstanding and he’s just one of those players we really feel that there’s a real trust about him,” German said.
“We just know that when he’s near the ball or on his opponent there’s going to be a really competitive edge when he’s in those situations and he’s done the same things when he’s come and played in the last three weeks.”
