SINCE making her debut back in 2019 as a 14-year-old, Charlotte Baskaran has not wasted anytime ticking off boxes. Her latest goal heading into her top-age season was to be named in the 2022 AFL Women’s Academy. A shortlist of those players identified to be among the top elite prospects in the country, it was a lofty goal. But one that Baskaran ticked off nonetheless.

“Definitely, it was a big goal of mine,” Baskaran said when asked about the Academy being a goal. “When I found out, I was rapt.”

Despite having that as a goal, it has not come without years of hard work. The versatile utility has been able to settle into a rhythm as one of the top players going around having started way back as an 11-year-old. She progressed through the pathways to represent not only the Western Jets but also Vic Metro.

“I started footy when I was 11, playing in the Under 12s at Aberfeldie, my local club,” Baskaran said. “Through that I progressed through to the EDFL interleague team, and after a year I got asked to play with the Western Jets. “This is my fourth year with the Western Jets. “I’ve also done multicultural and diversity programs as well, as my dad was born in Malaysia. “They’ve been awesome and participating in Vic Metro and AFL Academy.”

Last year, Baskaran was one of the select few who were named in both the Under 17s and Under 19s Metro squads. Starting in the Under 17s game, Baskaran stepped up to play against Western Australia at Under 19s level.

“It was awesome. The girls in the 19s were a bit bigger bodied,” Baskaran said. “The skills and the game structure was top notch, so being able to play in that type of level as a bottom-ager. “It gives me a lot of experience for this year coming in. “And at the 17s level it was good to be able to play with girls my age and get to know how they play for this year as well.”

Having spent time with the Vic Metro players as part of the recently named hub, Baskaran described the camp as “awesome” saying the squad “gelled” and “connected”. One of the more enjoyable aspects was the “top level” training, which Baskaran loved.

Despite the pathway success the Jets teenager has enjoyed, Baskaran said she did not have any particular inclination she would reach the heights she did as a 14-year-old.

“I didn’t want to put pressure on myself to get selected in it,” she said. “When I heard about it (Academy) I was working hard last year to get myself ready for this year, and when I heard about (being invited) I was stoked.”

As for Baskaran the player, the highly-athletic small has already shown she can play off half-back, on the wing or onball. The latter is where she hopes to play in 2022.

“Definitely inside mid I think that’s where I play my best footy,” Baskaran said. “And also having the ability to play on the outside as well and utilise my speed. “But this season particularly I want to become an inside mid.”

Along with her speed, Baskaran named her endurance as another strength, having come from an athletics background as a child. Well-known for her elite skills, Baskaran found the going a little tougher when placed under more pressure at the coalface and has targeted being more efficient inside for the upcoming season.

“My disposal efficiency,” Baskaran said of her main improvement. “I want them to be more effective this season, and just probably my skills all-round, developing them further to hopefully match the AFLW in the future.”

As for her overall goal, aside from reaching the top level, Baskaran was just looking to keep it simple in 2022 and remain true to herself.

“Just having a really good season, enjoying it, having fun,” she said. “Not putting too much pressure on myself and loving every moment of it.”