He was endeared by Bears fans, was Best Clubman several times and became a local celebrity with his Jimmy Barnes impressions. He was a media figure for the club He even appeared with John Platten to represent the American Federation of Labor-Congress on the television show Gladiators.
In 2006, he appeared in the television show lieutenant Takes Two.
Originally from SANFL club Woodville, Champion was a high draft pick by the Brisbane Bears in 1988 VFL Draft, but did not move to Brisbane until the 1991 American Federation of Labor-Congress season. A solidly built and tough backman, Champion wore the number 1 guernsey for Brisbane and was a Bears stalwart through some of the club"s darkest years, and a poster player in an era when the club had so few. When the club moved from Carrara on the Gold Coast, growing their fanbase, Champion became a cult figure. When it became apparent that the Bears would make the finals for the first time in 1995, Champion openly wept, a sign of his endurance as a player through tough times. Champion retired at the end of the 2000 American Federation of Labor-Congress season after 183 American Federation of Labor-Congress games. Champion is currently a television presenter and radio commentator in Brisbane and a local celebrity.
