He was just 17 when he made his Spitfires debut five years ago but on Sunday, in the second day of a double-header weekend against United in Albury, the central defender will take to the pitch for his 50th game at the elite level.

In between he’s spent a year on the sidelines, the result of that knee injury against St Kilda in 2013.

Wallace’s passion for the game never wavered, taking on junior representative coaching to keep “his hand in” before returning to the pitch last year to be judged joint best and fairest in the Spitfires first season in Canberra’s Capital League.

“It was incredible to come back and win the best and fairest last year, and 12 months on I think my game has continued to improve, I’d like to think I’m a leader in the group these days,” he said.

“I didn’t play too many games at the Victorian State League 1 but certainly it has been a huge step up in grade in Canberra.

“It has probably taken us the best part of 12 months to come up to speed.

“And while we’re still winless at this stage we haven’t suffered any of the 11-0 thrashings we copped last year and at the same time know that there are still some things to work on.

“But there is a belief among the group that we are on the right path — we want to be able to match these elite teams and we do for parts of the game but we aren’t there yet.”

Spitfires manager Brian Wild said Wallace was respected as a player and coach.

“He’s a highly regarded junior coach, having coached Hockey Albury- Wodonga juniors at Victorian State Championships, was a Border A grade premiership player for Falcons on several occasions, played for HAW at Victorian Country Championships and was selected in 2012 for Victoria Country to play at the National Country Championships,” he said.

“At just 22 years of age Charley has done a lot in short time and will be a key ‘senior’ player into the future.”