Jamie Charman Biography

Brisbane Lions premiership ruckman Jamie Charman has drawn the curtain on his 129-game career after being dogged by an Achilles injury for the past three seasons.

"It's been very, very long. I'm pretty grateful that Vossy and the club have stuck by me. They've been fantastic for me," Charman said.

"The medical staff has put up with a bloody lot in the last couple of years and it's been frustrating for them at times, trying to think of ways to get me up each week.

"I've met some great people, some great supporters, some great fans. Some of those fans I'm still good friends with today and I hope to stay friends with them forever. The Brisbane people, the support they've given me has been tremendous."

Premiership ruckman Jamie Charman is setting himself for a final attempt to regain fitness and play again for the Lions.

"You've got to be realistic; I haven't played for two years," he said.

"I need to get back and play, but I know I still have the hunger and fight in me to get back, which I think is really important. I'm really looking forward to that next stage where I'm able to run and train and get back for that first game. I'll be very, very eager."

Brisbane Lions ruckman Jamie Charman has bounced back strongly from the serious ankle injury that ruined his 2009 season with a strong pre-season that will hold him in good stead in 2010.

"Things are flying. I've never started a pre-season and I did six or seven weeks before Christmas so it was good going into the break knowing I had a base," he said.

"For most of last season I wasn't playing and I missed all the hype with Vossy's (coach Michael Voss) first year and the finals and everything so it has really motivated me and kept me hungry."

Injured Brisbane Lions ruckman Jamie Charman says his teammates are playing for rookie coach Michael Voss and will improve even more before September.

"I think we're only going to improve because I don't think we've really put together four solid quarters yet, except for maybe against the Sydney Swans," Charman said.

"There's plenty of improvement there for us, and we're only going to get better as the years go on."

Brisbane Lions ruckman Jamie Charman believes there will still be a role for him under Michael Voss next year, despite another injury-affected season.

Charman, 27, played just three games before injuring his ankle in round four this year. He attempted to get back for two months before going in for a season-ending reconstruction last month.

"I've got no doubt in my mind that I can still be one of the better ruckmen in the league, and be up there to influence a game in the ruck," Charman said.

"Over the last couple of years, it's been a little bit of a battle for me with injuries, but in saying that, I haven't had a decent pre-season over the past couple of years either.

"If I can get a good pre-season under my belt, I'm sure that will help me throughout the season."

Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss remains hopeful of regaining ruckman Matthew Leuenberger later this year after Jamie Charman was ruled out for the season.

Charman was due to undergo an ankle reconstruction on Monday after battling to overcome the injury he sustained against Collingwood in round four.

Coach Michael Voss said the medical and coaching staff made the decision to have surgery on Friday after Charman failed to respond to treatment.

"He couldn't change direction and he was obviously still having a problem with his ligaments, so it was just too unstable and too risky for him to come back and do some serious damage to himself," Voss said.

"Eventually you've got to make a call and for his own interests we had to make that on Friday, he wasn't making any progression."

Brisbane Lions ruckman Mitch Clark has taken up the mantle of number-one after the loss of Jamie Charman and Matthew Leuenberger.

"I'm just enjoying my footy at the moment and enjoying the task and the challenge of going up against the ruckmen, so hopefully I can continue with my form and provide a contest for the team," Clark said.

Bad news in Brisbane with Jamie Charman's ankle injury further depleting the Lions ruck stocks.

Charman is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks.

Brisbane Lions ruckman Jamie Charman will return to the side to take on Collingwood at the Gabba on Friday night with the likely exclusion of Matthew Leuenberger due to a knee injury.

The 26-year-old premiership star has been struggling for match fitness but played four quarters for the Lions reserves in their 112-point drubbing of Aspley in the AFLQ on the weekend.