| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth | 20 September 1982 , Albury, New South Wales |
| Recruited from | Murray U18 (TAC Cup) |
| Height and 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-)
114 games, 120 goals |
| ¹ Statistics to end of Round 20, 2008 season | |
| Career highlights | |
* St Kilda Pre-season Cup winning sides 2008, 2004
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Justin Gregory "Kosi" Koschitzke (born 20 September 1982) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.
Recruited in the 2000 AFL Draft at pick number two, 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 won the AFL Rising Star award.
In 2002 Koschitzke played just four games in an injury riddled season. His quad and hamstring injuries continued to cause him trouble into 2003 and 2004, when he missed five and eight 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 he picked up 19 disposals and booted three goals. His form continued when he kicked 16 goals over the next four games, but injury struck again after Round 21, causing him to miss the finals series.
Koschitzke is considered a versatile 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 appeared on FOX FM's Matt and Jo Show with Matt Tilley and Jo Stanley, with his weekly Friday football analysis.
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 abnormal. St. Kilda staff put the faint down to a number of factors including, fatigue, dehydration and a minor virus. There was no direct connection with his original injury and the collapse.
Koschitzke played 19 games in 2007, both in the forward line and the ruck, kicking 26 goals (season high 4 goals twice) and getting 155 hit outs (season high 21) and 116 marks (season high 10 twice).
After significant time in the ruck more of a forward role beckoned for Koschitzke after Fraser Gehrig announced his retirement.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Paul Hasleby |
AFL Rising Star 2001 |
Succeeded by Nick Riewoldt |
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