AFTER A promising start to his first season in the Navy Blue, first-year rookie Harry Charleson reflected on how he is finding his first season as a Blue.
Boasting an impressive season with the GWV Rebels and the Victoria Country side in 2024, Charleson put himself on Carlton’s radar with his speed and drive from the back half.
Becoming a Blue with pick No.9 in the 2024 Telstra AFL Rookie Draft, Charleson has improved by the week for the Carlton Reserves.
Since arriving at IKON Park, the young defender is yet to miss a game at VFL level for the Blues, with his game against Port Melbourne on Saturday night - named in the best players after a season-high 27 disposals - the highlight of his time in Navy Blue so far.
Playing a number of crucial lockdown roles on various forwards throughout the season, he has often found himself lining up on experienced AFL players, with the most significant of those being 300-gamer and three-time premiership Hawk Luke Breust on the 19-year-old’s VFL debut.
Believing it is putting him in the best position to fast-track his senior career, Charleson spoke of the faith to be given those tough roles from day one and the impact of development coach Tom Lonergan.
“Obviously having those match ups like Luke Breust it’s a lot of learning and new experience which is good,” Charleson said.
“Tom Lonergan has been huge. He’s backed me and my skills in since day one - he’s been unreal.”
Further to the coaches who have helped him settle in, he also gave an insight into what it’s like to train alongside some the players he grew up idolising.
“It’s pretty cool and pretty surreal: to be honest, I still pinch myself,” he said.
“They’re that good, you can lean on them for absolutely anything. Picking the brains of blokes like ‘Doc’ and ‘Saady’, players like that have been so good to me.”
Hailed by the AFL group as one of the main ‘energy drivers’ at training, it’s clear that the youngster has already earned the respect of his teammates and coaches – and launching into back half of the season, it’s something that has helped Charleson grow into his role.
“Backing myself in gives me a lot of confidence. Building into the back end of the year, my teammates trusting me really helps - I’m feeling a bit more comfortable out there now, so that definitely helps.
“Progressing throughout the whole year, picking my teammates brains and the coaches’ brains -they’ve all been unreal, so it’s made the transition easy.”
Summing up what’s to come for him in the back half of the season, Charleson’s main focus is to continue to live his team-first attitude and maintain the routine that has carried him in his first season.
“For me, it’s trying to stay consistent now that I’ve put in that body of work. I’m trying to translate that into my game and take it week by week, and hopefully I can help the boys get a couple more wins.”
Jaspar Wilson-Keir is a student at La Trobe University, undergoing his Bachelor of Media and Communications (Journalism and Marketing). He is currently undertaking an internship at the Carlton Football Club as part of its partnership with La Trobe University.
