ANOTHER season of WAFLW Women’s action is just around the corner, with the season kicking off on March 28. As we did with the SANFL Women’s competition, Rookie Me Central will count down 15 players to watch in the upcoming year, focusing on either top-age or bottom-age prospects to keep in mind.

We continue our top 15 players to watch countdown – which will run over the three weeks to finish on the eve of the WAFL Women’s season – with tenacious small Charli Bassett who impressed last season for East Perth and Western Australia.

East Perth, Western Australia GirlsForward-Midfielder

Charli Bassett

Height: 158cm

Weight: -

DOB: 19-11-2008

Positional Analysis

Bassett has shown her versatility at East Perth since coming into the League side as a bottom-ager. Though not a massive accumulator, Bassett spent time at half-forward, on a wing, and even on-ball where she always gives 100 per cent and cracks in well. At 158cm she is only small, but never takes a backwards step, and with ball in hand, usually does nice things with it.

2025 Stats

WAFLW | 10.8 disposals | 1.9 marks | 4.9 tackles | 1.9 inside 50s | 1 goal (8 games)

AFLW U18s | 10.0 disposals | 1.3 tackles | 2.3 inside 50s (3 games)

Key Strengths

As a whole, Bassett ticks a lot of boxes. She hunts the ball and the opposition to force turnovers and ensure her side can win it back and turn defence into offence. Covering the ground well and have a nice balance of athletic traits, Bassett is not afraid to help out the backs, while simultaneously getting into good positions to win it and drive the ball forward.

2026

Bassett is still building her overall game, with her decision making sound and her defensive traits fantastic, she is just ironing out the final execution and developing her opposite foot. She is a player who teammates love to run out alongside as she will always throw herself at the contest, and if she doesn’t win it herself, will either make it more difficult for the opposition, or free up a teammate for them to win it.

Looking to this year, Bassett will potentially spend more time rotating between forward and the midfield, with her size leaning more towards the former, though her work through traffic helps when she pinch-hits in there. The West Coast supporter is one who can improve on her bottom-age season, and with more development can become a really dangerous front half player, especially if she can hit the scoreboard more frequently.

Summary

Charli Bassett is a tenacious talent who can play just about anywhere. Though on the smaller side, she attacks everything with vigour and can get out of tight situations with great agility and smarts. With further development on her game in 2026 and rounding out some of her improvements, Bassett is a name to watch through the WAFLW for East Perth, and the national carnival for Western Australia.