The word "omitted" cuts deep. It happened to Charlie Dixon in his first AFL game in Cairns five years ago, the big foward unable to get in the game and swiftl hooked before half time. That night driving home with his parents he was in a really bad mood. "He just didnt know what they wanted from him, he was really frustrated and you just felt for him," his father Gordon said.
In his first AFL season, the Redlynch product was still finding his way, but in a sense had already come so far from the moment he was signed as a teenager to a club that did not yet exist. The Gold Coast Suns first man on the books, Dixon had left home to join his brother Jesse at Redlands in Brisbane where he slowly impressed all the right people. "There was one game where he was playing for his club at the Gabba and we thought "its not everyday your son plays at the Gabba," mum Helen said. "So I went down to watch and he just had the most amazing game. "I rang Gordon and jsut said 'you have to see this, hes playing so well'. "That was probably the moment, I think." Those are the good days where everything clicks and Dixon is the man everyone wants him to be.
Like the previous weekend when he kicked a club record seven goals againse North Melbourne and was trumpeted around the country as one of the AFL's elite tall forwards. But the family will quickly tell you there are plenty of bad days too.
Like on Saturday when the 24 year old fell awkwardly in of the games first contests and emerged from the pack limping. Dixon battled on, kicking a goal and getting a few more touches before quarter time. But he did not return, accepting the dreaded red subs vest and watching the rest of the game from the bench, head in hands.
The weekend was supposed to be a celebration, Charlies sister Mollie back in town to spend one last night at the family home before his parents move into something smaller.
Watching from a coporate box on the hill, enthusiasum was quickly vacummed from the air when they realised it was going to be another underwhelming homecoming. "Hes never really had a big game up here and thats what he really wante and he was in really good spirits the night before the game," Gordon said. "Look around here, we all know what hes feeling. He wont be happy."
Like any parents watching their child play sport, the Dixons feel every crunching tackle, kick at goal and lung busting lead. But the emotional toll between games cam be just as brutal. In a season dogged by controversy the off contract DIxon has also come unde the microscope on the paddock, with several teams chasing his signature. "Its weird to think thats our son that all these people are talking about," Gordon said. "Kids dream about this stuff but from a parents perspective its a very rocky ride and I think the parents worry about more things than the kids do. "He gets heavily scrutinsed and its hard to read everything that is written about him. "Every time I see a name omitted from the team, I just feel for them - the family would be just devastated because they ride the rollercoaster with them". Saturdays setback was antoher black spot in a short career marred by injury. In five seasons, Dixon has played just 59 games. But the one time basketballer has always done things the hard way. "He was always chasing Jesse growing up and hes had to work for everything he got', Helen said. He has always had height on his side, though brought to tears as a seven year old at a soccer game when a parent pointed at him and requested to see a birth certificate. That lankiness did not stop him wake boarding, skiing, montain biking and surfing while growing up, all hobbies he has since been forced to relinquish as the Suns wrapped him in cotton wool.
Cars are his passion now, something he inherited from Gordon who is restoring a XC Falcon panel van. "He did an apprentiship with Mercedes and new does alot with Fiat (a Suns sponsor) and they really like him," Gordon said. "I picked him up for dinner the othe night in the Falcon and he was mad keen about that."
The dissapointment of their sons injury slowing subsiding the Dixons re engage with the contest as Bulldogs mount their finals quarter charge. Not afraid to get a bit rowdy, they partake in a good natured back and fourth with Dogs fans in an adjoining box. "Its not netball!" Helen screams to widespread approval when a player is pinged for a throw. On the hill a young boy who plays Footy for South Cairns says Charlie is his favourite player. That is in a team which includes one of the greatest ever in Gary Ablett. Dixon has come a long way in five years, but Saturday's dissapointment highlights just how much there is left to acheive.
Article Courtesy of Murray Wenzel The Cairns Post
Last Modified on 16/07/2015 09:29