Charlie Ham searches for his love of footy at junior club Torquay
Within six months in 2021, Charlie Ham was drafted and cut, spat out of the AFL system. After losing his love for footy, the youngster has returned to his junior club to enjoy the game again.
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Former AFL-listed youngster Charlie Ham is hoping to “find my love for footy again” by joining junior club Torquay after a whirlwind two years that included being drafted and delisted within six months by North Melbourne.
The hard-runner has returned to the BFL powerhouse after spending 2022 with Werribee.
While he was aligned with St Mary’s as his local club last year, Ham has decided to join Torquay in 2023 after state-league football left him feeling “lost” on and off the field.
Ham, was just 18 when he was plucked out of the Geelong Falcons by North Melbourne in the mid-season draft in June, 2021 but was cut by the club just over four months later.
Ham said while he “loved everything” about playing with Werribee last year, he needed to take a step back to enjoy football again.
“After playing with Geelong Falcons for three years, Geelong VFL, getting drafted to North Melbourne and getting delisted after six months and then playing at Werribee VFL, it has taken a massive toll on my life and my enjoyment of the game,” he said.
“I don’t have the motivation and drive like I once did which really impacts my enjoyment playing footy.
“VFL is a massive commitment while juggling full-time work, my relationship and having time for myself and I understand there are a lot of players that have the same commitments as what I had but my enjoyment and motivation was lost, which would affect my ability to perform in training and games if I continued to play VFL.”
Ham, 20, said the staff, players and coaches at Werribee were “unreal” but the commitment of state-league footy was impacting him off the field.
An athletic defender and wingman, Ham played 18 games for the Tigers in 2022.
He initially agreed to play with the VFL club in 2023 before realising he was best returning home.
Torquay coach Dom Gleeson said he had spoken with Werribee coach Michael Barlow about Ham’s switch and the BFL club was determined to make sure the youngster keeps progressing his game.
“I found that I was really lost as I had no time to myself and it was really getting to me and affecting my relationships with people,” Ham said.
“So the decision to stop VFL was made with no regret and I’m confident that this is what is best for me.
“I was worried about what other people would think about me for making this call but I have received so much support, which has helped a lot in backing the decision.
“I’m heading back home to play at Torquay with my brother Sheldon and my mates, which I hope will help me find my love for footy again as well as live a balanced life outside of footy, which I’m really excited for.”
St Mary’s co-coach Glenn Keast said the Saints were happy for Ham to return to his junior club and “we would hope to maybe see him back with us sometime down the track”.
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