Charlie Dixon Biography

Charlie Dixon announces his retirement after 221 AFL games.

"I’ve been incredibly lucky to have had so long in a game that has given me a lot of great memories," Dixon said in a statement.

"While there have been a lot of challenges along the way, I feel really grateful to both Port Adelaide and the Gold Coast for the opportunities those clubs have provided and the friendships I've made along the way.

"It'll be hard not coming through those doors and seeing some of my best mates every day, but I’m looking forward to what comes next."

Charlie Dixon is dropped from the Power's senior side due to bad form, according to Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley.

"Charlie we've managed as well as we could through this year, but eventually form takes over and form becomes your issue," Hinkley said.

"What you've got to have is an appetite to get back. Charlie has a great appetite and wants to get back and contribute strongly for us at AFL level in the remaining part of this year, which I'm sure he'll be able to do.

"But sometimes you've just got to get your form back and that's exactly where he's at."

On the even of his 200th game, Charlie Dixon credits coach Ken Hinkley for helping him reach this major milestone.

"If I didn't have him (Hinkley) in my career, I wouldn't be playing ... he has always been brutally honest with me and that's the way I respond and how I like my feedback," Dixon said.

"I can simply put it down to, 'I wouldn't be where I am today without Ken'."

Charlie Dixon is facing another month on the sidelines after suffering bone bruising on the inside of his ankle following an incident at training.

Charlie Dixon will avoid surgery and be available for the trip to Brisbane in round one after tearing ligaments in his ankle during a Power training camp.

Charlie Dixon is in a moonboot after tearing ligaments in his left ankle after landing awkwardly on a teammate's foot during a marking contest at training. It is unclear how long he will be on the sidelines for or whether he will have to undergo surgery.

Charlie Dixon signs a new three-year deal with Port Adelaide to remain at the club until the end of 2023.

"I couldn't be happier to sign on to go around again for the next three seasons with the Port Adelaide Football Club," Dixon said.

"We've got a great group of young players coming through and I love being here and playing with them. It's an exciting future to be a part of."

Port Adelaide quickly shut down Adelaide rumours spread by Crows football director Mark Ricciuto that out-of-contract Charlie Dixon may attract the interest of Brisbane.

"Charlie has been at our footy club for five years, he's got a good relationship with Ken (Hinkley) and our playing group," Power head of football Chris Davies said.

"He knows that the club has looked after him and supported him through some tough times. I would be highly surprised if any of that meant that Charlie wanted to chase money or years over what would be a good and fair deal with Port Adelaide."

Charlie Dixon says he's feeling the pressure with his contract up at the end of the 2020 season and with age catching up to him.

"I'm 29, turning 30 this year, and we always had older players come to the club and tell us that before you blink, you'll be towards the end and you don't really take notice of that and then here I am, 29 and towards the end of my career and you're like, those old blokes were bloody right," Dixon said.

"I think I can still play for another three or four years if my body holds up and I want to do that, but the same thing is, 'Am I going to have a spot in the team? Can I still produce on game day?'

"There's all these questions you ask yourself when you get a little bit older and you see these young blokes come through and knocking on the door."

Charlie Dixon will end an almost 10-month absence from competitive football when he returns from a broken leg and a damaged ankle to play in the SANFL this week.

Charlie Dixon remains out of action indefinitely after undergoing additional surgery for leg and ankle injuries sustained last year.

"I literally don't have a time frame at all and it is frustrating," Dixon said.

"I am a big, heavy man and it is putting a lot of weight on my ankle and leg where I broke (it). It is going to take time."

Charlie Dixon undergoes ankle surgery after another setback in his recovery from a broken leg.

"He's in really good condition as far as his weight and shape and everything else, but his leg is still holding him up a little bit," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.

"I'd just say, we wouldn't expect Charlie to play before rounds four to six, and that's if everything stays good."

Charlie Dixon is still experiencing pain after breaking his leg late in 2018.

Dixon has shed five kilograms from his 108kg frame to lighten the load from the joint of his ankle.

"Given his injury, it's a joint injury and he weighs 105kg, there's a lot of pressure and force going through that joint on a day-to-day basis, especially when he starts running again, so it will be a long, slow process for Charlie," Power vice-captain Hamish Hartlett said.

Charlie Dixon is confident a shortened eight-week pre-season will have him firing for the start of next year.

The 27-year-old will be on limited duties for the next four to five months as he recovers from a broken right leg and a right ankle sprain.

"I've shown I can have eight weeks of pre-season and have a really good year," Dixon said.

"That's what I had the year before, and had one of my best seasons."

Charlie Dixon will require surgery after confirmation he fractured his leg in Port Adelaide's heartbreaking loss to West Coast at Adelaide Oval.

"Charlie has suffered a fractured right fibula which will require surgery," Port Adelaide’s head of medical services Tim O’Leary said.

"We are still working out a timeline for surgery but he won't play again this year."

Charlie Dixon says he is still haunted about his wayward goalkicking in the Power's epic extra-time elimination final loss to West Coast in 2017.

"I still have nightmares about that game," Dixon said.

"I kicked three goals, six. I kick one or two more goals, we win the game, it's as simple as that."

Travis Boak will remain captain of Port Adelaide in 2018 with Ollie Wines serving again as vice-captain.

Recruit Tom Rockliff has been given a leadership role as has Charlie Dixon.

Brad Ebert, Hamish Hartlett and Tom Jonas round out the leadership group.

Paddy Ryder claims the John Cahill Medal as Port Adelaide's best and fairest for the 2017 season.

Ryder finished on top with 241 votes, just seven votes ahead of Charlie Dixon (234) and Tom Jonas (203).

"It's just really humbling to be crowned the club champion," Ryder said.

"As a player, I just wanted to come out there and show my love for the game, for my teammates, just try to be as consistent as I can.

"I knew in the past I was able to play some pretty good football, but maybe consistency was my let-down, so I just wanted to play at a high level of football and keep that roll on for as long as I could."

Charlie Dixon misses his opportunity to kick the match-sealing goal for Port Adelaide against Geelong.

As the clock ticked down, Dixon dithered and failed to start his run-up. Called to play on, he was then swamped by Geelong defenders and forced to handball.

Power coach Ken Hinkley said he had no issue with the umpire's decision to call play on.

"I understood it. Time ran out. Unfortunately they got it 100 per cent correct as far as right on the dot," Hinkley said.

"I don't think I've ever seen it before but that doesn't matter. The umpires got it right."

Charlie Dixon enters round one of 2017 having kicked just one goal in his three games during the JLT Community Series.

It's hardly the blinding form Power fans expect of their $3.5 million recruit, who moved to Alberton on a five-year deal worth a reported $700,000 per season at the end of 2015.

Power coach Ken Hinkley's advice to Dixon, however, was simple.

"Keep working, keep building your game and keep working at it," Hinkley said.

Port Adelaide will consider throwing key forward Charlie Dixon into the ruck to help kick-start his pre-season campaign.

Dixon has had a limited impact during the JLT Community Series, booting just one goal in the Power's two losses.

"I think Ken (coach Ken Hinkley) would probably be more open to it this year," Bassett told 5AA radio.

"We've got three big people who can play ruck and forward, between Ryder, Trengove and Dixon, you can certainly have those three guys moving through the key forward role and the ruck role for us.

"We're looking for more consistency from (Dixon) and this week is an important week for him."

Charlie Dixon says his 2016 season was affected by ankle issues which he hopes has been corrected with surgery in the off-season.

"I've had loose ankles and that's been a problem for me," Dixon said.

"It was just something that wasn't getting better. It was best to tighten it up and strengthen it up.

"There's not as much movement as there has been."

Dixon said it was a different ankle injury to what he had previously had during his five seasons with Gold Coast from 2011-15.

"They (the surgeons) weren't 100 per cent sure when they went in there, they did a little bit of a clean out," Dixon said.

"They ended up drilling through it and tightening it up with a couple cords.

"I wasn't too fussed, I was just worried about when I could be back."

Dixon admitted he rushed back too early last season after he had his ankle stepped on by a North Melbourne defender in round 17.

"I probably rushed back probably four weeks too early," he said.

"We were maybe a chance to play finals, so I had to try and get out there. I should have waited a bit."

Charlie Dixon will be sidelined for pre-season training while he recovers from ankle surgery.

"Charlie has a history of ankle issues," Power's head of high performance Darren Burgess said.

"This is the same ankle that gave him problems towards the end of last season so we thought the most sensible thing to do was get it cleaned up now.

"He'll be back running in three to four weeks and ready for full training when the group returns from the Christmas break."

Charlie Dixon is ruled out for at least a week after sustaining an ankle injury in Port Adelaide's win over North Melbourne.

"Because of the nature of the injury, it’s difficult to say exactly when he’ll be back but we’ll rehabilitate him as quickly as possible without risking any further damage," Power’s high performance manager Darren Burgess said.

"This is a new injury, a trauma injury, and fortunately has nothing to do with the ankle problems Charlie’s had in the past."

Port Adelaide skipper Travis Boak says Charlie Dixon will fit in seamlessly at his new club.

"The boys absolutely love him and what a lot of people might not know is that he's a great leader out on the ground," Boak said.

"His presence out on the field is outstanding. If we get the ball in to him he's going to do work in the air but also on the ground."

Charlie Dixon finishes with seven disposals, three marks and a goal in a half of football during his debut for the Power in their NAB Challenge match against Richmond.

"There's a lot about Charlie to like," Hinkley said post-game.

"He played 'Port Adelaide' when he first came on the ground – bash, crash, 'get out of my way, if you get in my way I'm probably going to hurt you if I have to, but my teammates matter and whatever I have to do for them I'll do'."

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is tempering any expectations on prized recruit Charlie Dixon who will play his first match for the club in their NAB Challenge clash against Richmond.

"There has been a fair bit built up around Charlie over the summer and us getting him, so we look forward to seeing his start," Hinkley said.

"But you want to hold the expectation back a little. He is coming off a pretty restricted program for the last four weeks."

Charlie Dixon has overcome a knee injury and will play in Port Adelaide's last NAB Challenge match.

"He is going to cause some headaches because he's a big strong man, I think he's about 110 kilos," teammate Jackson Trengove said of his new Power teammate.

"But then he's really good at ground level and his pressure is awesome, so he's going to be exciting to have on our team - I'm glad I'm not playing on him."

Charlie Dixon's pre-season has been derailed for at least a month after knee surgery to repair minor damage to his left meniscus sustained during training.

"His operation was pretty straightforward and we’ll be able to get him through his rehab by the end of the NAB Challenge," Port's head of high performance Darren Burgess said.

"He actually got through the whole session yesterday, but felt sore when he came off the track and we opted to get it scanned.

"It was in his best interests to get it tidied up now, rather than risk further damage when the season starts."

Charlie Dixon is working with high performance manager Darren Burgess to overcome his troublesome ankle injuries.

"This is the first time in my career that I’ve come out of a season and wanted to keep playing, in the sense that my body has felt really good," Dixon told the Cairns Post.

"In previous years I’ve looked at the blokes playing finals and thought to myself, ‘How are they still fit and able to play their best footy after such a long season?’

"I’ve already met with Darren Burgess and he’s given me a program to follow ahead of our first day of pre-season.

"The fitness program is centred on strengthening the muscles around my ankles and hips."

Charlie Dixon says it was primarily his relationship with Power coach Ken Hinkley – who was a Suns assistant coach in 2011-2012 – that lured him to Port Adelaide.

"He was our forwards coach and back then I was probably not the most professional and wasn't doing everything I could, so he whacked me and basically showed me what I needed to do to be a professional athlete, and I think that's where we grew," Dixon said.

"Sometimes you click with people and Kenny's got my number and he can push me and drive me to be better.

"He can hit you between the eyes when he needs to and I think that's what I need."

Charlie Dixon has signed a five-year deal with Port Adelaide after the Power and Gold Coast signed off on a three-club deal that should pave the way for Richmond to snare Carlton speedster Chris Yarran.

Dixon requested a trade to Port on the Monday after the home and away season concluded.

Port coach Ken Hinkley indicated soon afterwards that the Power would be prepared to part with their first-round pick in this year's NAB AFL Draft, No.10 overall, for the Suns spearhead.

But Gold Coast's refusal to accept that offer started a protracted negotiation between the clubs.

However, Richmond's intervention in those negotiations saw the parties reach a deal in which:

- Port receives Dixon and pick No.49 and gives up pick No.10 and its 2016 second-round pick.
- Gold Coast receives picks No.10 and 31 and two 2016 second-round picks and gives up Dixon and picks No.19 and 49.
- Richmond receives pick No.19 and gives up pick No.31 and its 2016 second-round pick.

Charlie Dixon has quit Gold Coast and has indicated he is seeking a trade to Port Adelaide.

"We have had continuous discussions with Charlie's management for some time and all parties have arrived at the same conclusion … that a fresh start for the club and the player is the desired outcome," Suns general manager of football operations Marcus Ashcroft said.

"Charlie has identified a club of choice and his management will now work with that club to explore the possibilities of an appropriate trade during the exchange period."

As speculation mounts about his future, Gold Coast forward Charlie Dixon says he still hasn't made a decision on where he'll play in 2016.

"I haven't made a decision yet. I'm leaving that up to my manager," Dixon said.

"I'm just trying to play football at this point in time."

Tom Lynch says he is keen for his partner in the Gold Coast forward line, Charlie Dixon, to stay at the Suns next year.

"I love playing with him. I think we work well together," Lynch said.

"Throughout the year if one's been down, the other one's been up, so we're complementing each other.

"I think he will sign. He does love the club and I hope he signs. He'll be a massive boost for us if we sign him on."

Charlie Dixon looks set to miss a few weeks after injuring his ankle in the opening minute of Gold Coast's loss to the Western Bulldogs.

"He was able to play nearly to quarter-time (before being subbed) but his ankle's really blown up so he certainly won't play next week," Suns coach Rodney Eade said.

"We'll have to get it scanned and see where that's at, but hopefully it's nothing too serious.

"But you imagine the way it's blown up it will be a few weeks."

Suns coaching adviser Malcolm Blight says Gold Coast will have a fight on its hands to keep power forward Charlie Dixon beyond this year.

"Personally, I'd like him to stay, we'd all like him to stay," Blight said.

"There's two (issues) there, he wants to stay and someone else wants him more than us, and sometimes that meets and sometimes that doesn't. We hope he stays."

Charlie Dixon has spoken for the first time since breaking a player-imposed alcohol ban, admitting he should have handled things differently.

Dixon said drinking a glass of wine had become a match-eve ritual he developed during the pre-season to help him sleep better.

However, Dixon's reason didn't wash with the Suns' leaders, who in consultation with the entire playing group agreed on a zero tolerance policy to alcohol prior to the bye.

Dixon broke the pact just three days after it was initiated and admitted he should have handled things differently.

"I should have (mentioned the pre-game routine) in the group when we had that discussion," Dixon said.

"I was unsure what the reaction would be, but I still should have asked the question.

"I was definitely not trying to hide it, if I was I would have paid my room bill.

"I'm disappointed in myself and would have loved to be out there with the boys on the weekend.

"It really hurt me to be up in the stands and to let my teammates down."

Charlie Dixon and Jack Martin have been banned for one match after breaching the club's zero-tolerance alcohol policy.

Dixon and Martin broke the rules on Friday night before the Suns' 53-point loss against Hawthorn in Launceston by consuming "a glass or two" of wine.

"We've really put our foot down now, enough's enough. We need to make sure everyone's heading in the same direction," Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett said.

"In the past I think there's been a bit of inconsistency in the way we've handled things. Change needs to happen.

"What's disappointing is the trust that comes with that, and those boys know they really need to earn the group's trust back now.

"It's just unacceptable."

Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade says he is confident Charlie Dixon will remain at the Suns beyond this year.

"We want him to be part of where we're headed and where we're going. Early indications are that he wants to as well; (he's) pretty keen to stay," Eade said.

"He's buying into trying to be a leader which he's never embraced before, but he's got such an impact on the rest of the group, so we're looking for Charlie to be able to develop in that area as well.

After kicking six goals against GWS as a forward, Charlie Dixon says he is thriving in his role as a backup ruck.

"I think the ruck's really helped me because it's got me up and around the ball and I've been able to stay in the contest, whereas up forward I can get a bit stagnant and go cold and not be able to impact the contest so much," Dixon said.

Dixon says an improved aerobic capacity has allowed him to spend more time in the middle.

"At the end of 2011 all the coaches cracked me and I decided I needed to work a lot harder than I was," Dixon said.

"I trained hard, tried to get a good pre-season and do everything I can to get my body right and put my name up for selection.

"I'm able to move a lot better, cover the ground better and be able to run out a full game."

Charlie Dixon makes his AFL debut for Gold Coast at the Gabba with 7 disposals (6 kicks and a handball), 2 marks, 2 tackles and 2 goals in a 119-point loss to Carlton.