General News
13 July, 2023
Milestone for Lucas
CAMPERDOWN’S Charlie Lucas will notch up his 100th senior game for the club tomorrow.
CAMPERDOWN’S Charlie Lucas will notch up his 100th senior game for the club tomorrow.
The Magpies will head to Reid Oval to take on the Warrnambool Blues for round 13 of the Hampden League season and will be hoping to notch up win number seven for the season to add to the milestone celebrations.
Twenty-four year-old Lucas’ involvement with the Magpies began with the club’s Sunday junior program where he took out the Graham Hillman Memorial Award for under 12s in 2011 and two years later won the under 14 club best and fairest title.
Lucas made his Saturday debut in the Magpies’ under 18s in 2015 under coach Jeremy Baker and also claimed the under 16s best and fairest award that year.
The following season he played a further six games with the 18s and made his season debut under Phil Carse.
After 12 seniors’ appearances in 2016 Charlie received the Best First Year Player Award for the Magpies.
That season also saw Charlie play his first senior game alongside brother Eddie at South Warrnambool’s Friendly Societies Park and Camperdown finished the year with an elimination final appearance.
The following season Charlie notched up a further 12 senior games under Carse and on Maskell Medal day claimed the Hampden League Rising Star Award for Camperdown.
A full season in 2018 saw him add 21 senior games to his tally and for the first time, the three Lucas brothers – Charlie, Eddie and Fraser – represented Camperdown in the senior side.
After a strong 2018 home and away season, the Magpies finished third and Charlie played an integral role in the side’s grand final clash with Koroit.
Under new coaches Neville Swayn and Jack Williams, Charlie added 18 games in season 2019 before COVID put a halt to proceedings in 2020 and just eight games were added in another COVID-interrupted season the year after.
Last season saw Charlie play 16 senior games for the year and finish runner-up to Cameron Spence in the club’s best and fairest award – while also claiming the ‘Players Player’ award for the Magpies.
At season’s end, Charlie headed north where he enjoyed a season with the Palmerston Magpies in Darwin.
Tomorrow will see game 13 for the 2023 season for Charlie, bringing him to the 100-game milestone for the Magpies.
He will join father Murray and brothers Eddie and Fraser on the Magpies’ 100 game honour roll.
Charlie’s grandfather Geoff, uncles Steve and Anthony, sister Annabel and mother Jodie have also all been great contributors to life at Leura Oval.
“It’s certainly nice to reach the 100-game milestone, particularly given dad, Eddie and Fraser have already done so,” Charlie said.
“Camperdown (the club) has always been home for us. My family and all my mates have played there, and many still are, so it’s good to stick together.
“I’ve got no real aspirations to coach; I’m just happy to go out and do my thing and contribute as much as I can.”
As for this Saturday’s celebrations, Charlie wasn’t yet sure what was on the cards – but a win on the board would be great.
“We’re still within reach of the top five so if we can keep our momentum going and string a few more wins together, we could sneak into the five,” he said.
“We have good depth and with the return of the likes of Brendan Richardson, Will Rowbottom and Ryley Arnold that added to our strength this season.”
Whatever the outcome on the scoreboard tomorrow, one thing is certain – the Magpies will be celebrating one of its own.
