Geelong midfielder Charlie Constable earns Round 2 NAB Rising Star nomination

He watched on as an emergency six times during his maiden AFL season, but Charlie Constable has made up for lost time after earning a Round 1 debut at Geelong.

Charlie Constable celebrates a goal during Geelong’s emphatic win over Melbourne on Saturday night. Picture: Getty Images.

An emergency six times in his first season at Geelong last year, Charlie Constable knew exactly what he had to do to crack an AFL debut.

“It was just my spreading from the contest which was the main thing,” Constable said.

“That’s an easy thing to work on. You’ve just got to go out and do the hard yards. I was lucky that I had a good mate that did it with me so that helped a lot.”

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That good mate was Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw and while many AFL players were enjoying overseas holidays during their Christmas breaks, the former Sandringham Dragons teammates were completing gruelling training sessions together six days a week.

“I think that benefited us both a lot,” Constable said.

The proof has been in the pudding.

The Geelong midfielder and nephew of AFL great Mick Malthouse played both pre-season matches and earned a Round 1 AFL debut against Collingwood at the MCG.

A fine 21-disposal game solidified his spot and the 19-year-old went on to rack up 31 disposals and a goal against Melbourne on Saturday night to win a Round 2 NAB Rising Star nomination.

“It’s been a nice transition from VFL to AFL in the first two weeks and it always helps when the team’s playing really well as we have,” Constable said.

Geelong’s Charlie Constable gets a kick away during a 31-disposal Round 2 game against Melbourne. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

Teammate Paddy Dangerfield has proven a huge help in Constable’s progression as a player over summer, while there was also plenty learnt from going head-to-head with captain Joel Selwood and fellow star midfielder Mitch Duncan during pre-season match simulation.

“It’s a massive challenge coming up against Joel and Paddy and Mitch and all those sort of boys but I guess you learn a lot pretty quickly and it fast-tracks you,” Constable said.

Charlie Constable handpasses for Sandringham Dragons, where he was teammates with running buddy Andrew Brayshaw. Picture: Kylie Else

Andrew Brayshaw, pictured at Sandringham Dragons, and Charlie Constable benefited from running sessions over summer. Picture: Brendan Francis

“When you get out into a real game you’ve seen it all from what they do and you’re ready.”

Constable got his nickname ‘Chook’ courtesy of Melbourne midfielder Angus Brayshaw for eating “a bit too much chicken back in the day” and it has stuck among his new teammates at the Cats.

But Constable is beginning to rule the roost both on field and off it, shaving six off his golf handicap in recent months after regular outings with teammates Duncan, Tom Hawkins, Tom Stewart, Lachie Henderson and Wylie Buzza.

“I’m hitting off nine at the moment,” Constable said.

“I’m not amazing but I try to get out one or two times a week with some of the boys which is a bit of fun.”