Justin Koschitzke

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**Justin Koschitzke**
Personal Info
Birth	20 September 1982, Albury, New South Wales
Recruited from	Murray U18 (TAC Cup)
Height/Weight	197cm / 96kg
Playing Career¹
Debut	Round 3, 15 April 2001, St Kilda vs. West Coast Eagles, at Colonial Stadium
Team(s)	St Kilda (2001-) 73 games, 61 goals
¹ Statistics to end of Round 6, 2006 season
Career Highlights
*AFL Rising Star winner 2001

Justin Gregory Koschitzke (born 20 September 1982) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.

Recruited in the 2000 AFL Draft at pick no 2, there were high expectations on Koschitzke from a young age. His athletic 197cm build and strong marking were a great asset to the St Kilda Football Club, which drafted him and gave him his AFL debut early in 2001. He made an immediate impact and in a debut year where he played 20 games, he took out the AFL Rising Star award.

This early potential had not been fully harnessed however, and in 2002 Koschitzke played just 4 games in an injury riddled season. His quad and hamstring injuries continued to cause him trouble into 2003 and 2004, where he missed 5 and 8 games respectively.

In 2005, another injury-affected season, Koschitzke played sporadically until he made a return in Round 14 against the Western Bulldogs. In a best-on-ground performance, Koschitzke picked up 19 disposals and booted three goals. His great form continued when he kicked 16 goals over the next 4 games, but unfortunately, injury struck again after Round 21, where he missed the finals series.

Koschitzke's talents are yet to be fully recognised, and he has been touted as a key position player who can play at centre half-forward and centre half-back, as well as a ruckman. Although some have questioned whether using him in the ruck would be too hard on his body.

Koschitzke has also appeared on FOX FM's Matt and Jo Show with Matt Tilley and Jo Stanley, with his weekly Friday football analysis.

[edit] 2006 season

In 2006 Koschitzke suffered further injury problems, first missing Rounds 1–3 with a minor knee injury and then missing Round 5 with a quadriceps injury. After being a surprise inclusion for Round 6 against the Bulldogs, he was knocked out by Daniel Giansiracusa with a legal hip and shoulder and was then diagnosed with a fractured skull, and was expected to miss 4–6 weeks. But 4 weeks on, Koschitzke had not regained hearing in one ear, and for future health concerns, was ruled out for the remainder of the season. Coach Grant Thomas later came to say if he did return to play in 2006, it would be an unexpected bonus.

On Sunday 18 June, Justin Koschitzke collapsed while filming a live television spot for Channel Seven program Sportsworld whilst being interviewed by David Schwarz. He was released from hospital later in the day after scans found nothing abonormal. St. Kilda staff put the faint down to a number of factors including, fatigue, dehydration and a minor virus. There was no direct correlation with his original injury and the collapse.

On Saturday 15 July, in his second game back for the Casey Scorpions reserves (after playing only the first half the previous week), Koschitzke collided heavily with a field umpire in the first quarter, forcing him to leave the ground with a split lip and mild concussion. The VFL tribunal suspended Koschitzke for one match, further delaying his comeback.

Justin Koschitzke made his long awaited return to AFL in Round 19 against Geelong. He had an immediate impact on the game, contributing 2 goals in the Saints 23 point victory. He had played out the rest of the season.