Charlie Ballard

Last updated

Charlie Ballard
Personal information
Nickname(s) Chook
Date of birth (1999-07-23) 23 July 1999 (age 25)
Original team(s) Sturt (SANFL)
Draft No. 42, 2017 national draft
Debut 5 May 2018, Gold Coast  vs. Western Bulldogs, at Mars Stadium
Height 196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight 95 kg (209 lb)
Position(s) Tall defender
Club information
Current club Gold Coast
Number 10
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2018- Gold Coast 133 (3)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2024.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Charlie Ballard (born 23 July 1999) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Contents

Early life

Charlie participated in the Auskick program at Mitcham, South Australia. [1]

Ballard played in their under-18 premiership for the Sturt Football Club in the SANFL as well as for Sacred Heart College. [2] Standing 180cm at the time, Ballard averaged 18 disposals on the wing in the 2017 AFL Under 18 Championships, playing for South Australia. He ran 3.05 seconds in the 20 m (66 ft) sprint at the AFL Draft Combine, and was touted as a top-30 selection at the 2017 AFL draft. [3]

AFL career

Ballard was selected by Gold Coast with pick 42, their 3rd-round selection. [4]

He made his AFL debut in round 7 of the 2018 season, in the nine-point loss against the Western Bulldogs at Mars Stadium. He kicked one goal on debut. [5] Ballard's first game was praised by coach Stuart Dew, along with fellow debutant Brayden Crossley. [6]

Ballard played his 100th game in 2023. Following a successful 2024 season with the Suns, he signed a contract extension until the end of 2029. [7]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2024 [8]
Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals  
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds  
  H  
Handballs  
  M  
Marks
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game) Votes
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
2018 Gold Coast 311112793411339150.10.27.23.110.33.51.40
2019 Gold Coast 10210121163274111230.00.010.03.013.05.31.10
2020 [a] Gold Coast 1016001144415868130.00.07.12.89.94.30.80
2021 Gold Coast 10210022761288140250.00.010.82.913.76.71.23
2022 Gold Coast 10180117749226109220.00.18.71.310.05.01.70
2023 Gold Coast 10231023063293142290.00.010.02.712.76.21.30
2024 Gold Coast 10231018494278111280.00.08.04.112.14.81.2
Career13334122240816307201550.00.09.23.112.35.41.23

Notes

  1. The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. AFL Record. Round 9, 2022. pg 78
  2. Abbracciavento, Daniela (5 August 2017). "Sturt under-18 player Charlie Ballard is one of SA's top AFL draft picks". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  3. Twomey, Callum. "Late bloomer looms as draft tall order". afl.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  4. "Charlie Ballard". goldcoastfc.com.au. Archived from the original on 8 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  5. Black, Sarah. "Five talking points: Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast". afl.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  6. Black, Sarah. "Sparkling debutants can add polish Suns need". afl.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  7. "'I love the place': Suns lock away another piece of backline puzzle". afl.com.au. 17 September 2024.
  8. "Charlie Ballard". AFL Tables. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2022.