Sport
27 June, 2025
‘King Charlie’ returns home
AFL star and proud Cairns product Charlie Dixon is returning home for one unforgettable week – and it all comes back to where it began: Griffiths Park.
Affectionately known as “King Charlie”, Dixon arrived back on familiar turf on Monday to spend the week mentoring junior players, reconnecting with his footy roots and making a long-awaited match appearance on Saturday, June 28.
For Dixon, who grew up playing junior footy at Griffiths Park with the Redlynch Lions and Cairns Saints, coming home is more than a visit, it’s a chance to give back to the community that helped shape him.
As part of the week-long return, Dixon held junior training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, giving local kids a rare opportunity to train alongside one of the AFL’s modern-day power forwards.
But the real headline act will take place on Saturday (June 28) when Dixon lines up in a feature match at Griffiths Park against the Port Douglas Crocs. Adding to the excitement, Charlie will be joined on field by his brother Jesse Dixon, currently on the list with St Kilda. The match is set to be a special family affair on the field where it all began.
“It’s always special coming home,” Dixon said. “Cairns means a lot to me and I can’t wait to give back to the next generation and play on the oval where it all began – and to play alongside Jesse again is super exciting.”
Dixon’s rise from Cairns junior to AFL star is a well-known and much-loved story in FNQ. After being signed by the Gold Coast Suns as a zone selection in 2009, Dixon made history by kicking the Suns’ first-ever AFL goal in their 2011 debut match. In 2015, he was traded to Port Adelaide, where he became one of the club’s most dependable forwards, amassing 221 games, 357 goals, and earning All-Australian honours in 2020.
Dixon’s return marks a proud moment for AFL Cairns, long considered one of Queensland’s strongest regional leagues. It’s a reminder of the calibre of players the region continues to produce, and the spirit that keeps local footy thriving. The activities included junior mentoring, community engagement events and plenty of opportunities for fans to reconnect with a hometown hero.
