AN EXPLOSIVE midfielder who can also go forward and make an impact, West Perth top-ager Mia Russo kicks off our podium of WAFL Women’s players to watch in 2025. Russo has some electrifying traits, and though injury limited her AFLW Under 18 Championships last year, the Falcons talent is a past MVP winner at Under 16s level.
MIA RUSSO PROFILE
DOB: 06/08/2007
Height: 165cm
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Club: West Perth
West Australian Female Talent Manager Trent Cooper says:
“Mia has trained really well through the summer. Inside mid, explosive out of the stoppage and is really working on her weaknesses. She’s got so many strengths but she’s really focused on being an all-round player. She’s going to be a valuable addition for whoever she plays for.”
SUMMARY
Russo has had a famed junior career through the West Australian talent pathways, winning back-to-back Rogers Cup best and fairests as well as an Under 16s MVP for her state at the national carnival in 2023. Becoming age-eligible for seniors at West Perth for the 2024 season, Russo played 14 games and was among the key reasons the Falcons cracked in for their maiden finals series.
Throughout the 2024 season, Russo averaged 17.4 disposals, 2.1 marks, 4.4 tackles and 4.1 inside 50s, while kicking 12 goals in 14 games. She developed from being a forward who pinch-hit in midfield to spending far more minutes on the inside, which added other layers to her game at senior level. A high production midfielder amongst her peers, it was key to showing that Russo could equally find the ball against bigger bodies.
She had five games of 20-plus disposals through the year last season, and got her hands dirty against Claremont in the finals series, laying a season-high nine tackles. When not winning the ball she has shown her tackling pressure has lifted, with a marked improvement on her defensive areas over the last 12 months.
While still developing areas of her game to become completely well-rounded, there is little doubt that Russo has enormous hurt factor forward of centre. Her explosiveness from stoppages and ability to go forward, find space and hit the scoreboard is a trait of all great midfielders. If she can get continuity through not only the WAFLW season but national championships too, then watch out.
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