Charlie Nicholls Draft Profile

Central DistrictKey Forward

#25

Charlie Nicholls

height: 197cm

weight:

D.O.B: 08-06-2006

Leagues: AFL U18 Championships

Snapshot
Analysis
Summary

SNAPSHOT: “An athletic forward who possesses unique speed for his size, making it tough for defenders to match up with him on the lead” – Micah Hann

Charlie Nicholls was a standout performer for a Central District side that fell short by four points in the 2024 SANFL Under 18 Grand Final. Nicholls spearheaded the Dogs’ attack, while also providing a chop-out in the ruck. His 22 goals from 11 games in the Under 18 competition was good enough to earn him runner-up in the club’s best and fairest and positioned him as a draft consideration come November.

The 197cm key position talent also featured at the National Championships where he played a tough role up forward in a South Australian side that managed just one win from its four games. When opportunities inside forward 50 were limited, Nicholls was able to use his speed and athleticism to push up and present as an option further up the ground, or even briefly swing to defence.

A successful stint at senior level through the SANFL Reserves gave Nicholls some exposure against stronger, more mature defenders. He adapted well to the rise in level, with a strong performance (12 disposals, seven marks and a goal) against West Adelaide and a serviceable contribution in a win against eventual premiers Norwood.

Having attracted enough interest from AFL clubs to earn a National Combine invite, Nicholls’ unique blend of size and speed make him an intriguing prospect in this year’s draft.

PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS:

STRENGTHS:

+ Field kicking
+ Leading patterns
+ Mobility
+ Speed
+ Versatility

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Physicality
- Set shot consistency

Nicholls' speed stands out immediately as a strength. He looks most comfortable inside forward 50 when he’s able to create separation from his defender and present at the football. The comfort he shows on the lead extends beyond the forward 50 arc. Nicholls looks right at home as a genuine centre half forward, roaming up the ground and finding alternative ways to work himself into the contest.

His versatility to be able to play small bursts in the ruck means that he has plenty of ways to have an influence, even with limited opportunities around the goals. He even has scope to ply his trade behind the ball, where he is capable of reading the play nicely and closing in on both aerial contests and his direct opponent.

A capable field kick for his size, Nicholls is generally reliable with ball in hand. This hasn’t quite extended to his set shot kicking, where he has struggled to find consistency in front of goal. Nicholls threatened at times throughout the year to blow games wide open but squandered some opportunities, failing to convert in front of the big sticks.

His game against Vic Country at the National Carnival was one of those where he returned just one goal from four scoring shots. What is pleasing to see is that Nicholls attracts the football and creates plenty of opportunities for himself. When it all comes together, he’s got the potential to put in truly dominant performances.

At times, Nicholls relies too heavily on his length in marking contests. Attacking the ball at its highest point will be critical at the next level, where his height and reach will be less adventageous. It will also be important for him to add more size so that he can use his strength to create separation from his defender, rather than relying solely on his speed.

Nicholls' athletic attributes and positional versatility provide a solid base. With some further refinement of his conversion rate and physical maturation, the pathway is there for him to establish himself at the next level.

DRAFT RANGE: 40-60

SUMMARY:

It’s easy to see why Nicholls might attract some interest towards the back-end of the draft. His combination of height and speed presents an intriguing ceiling, and clubs will value his positional versatility with the ability to play both as a key forward and second ruck. In a draft with less depth, Nicholls has the profile that might have attracted some attention through early to midpoint of the draft. However, given the depth of talent in this year’s crop, the Central District product is likely to be an option for clubs towards the latter end of the intake.