WEST Australian AFLW Draft prospect Mia Carlshausen has built an exciting junior CV with the hard-running defender capping off her underage year with a National Draft Combine invitation. A member of the National Academy who won All-Australian honours at the AFLW Under 18 Championships, Carlshausen was also a key member for Perth in an unforgettable season.

“I think I had a pretty good state champs campaign and put me in a good stead for the WAFLW season,” Carlshausen said. “Then finished the season with Perth Demons.”

Perth rose up the ladder in year two, with the Demons competing for a finals spot which went down to the last round of the year. Though they ultimately missed out on post season action, the departure of co-captain Isabella Shannon to West Coast near the end was both a credit to the program, as well as a unfortunate loss.

“I think we all just went in with no pressure surrounding what was going to happen,” Carlshausen said of the year. “We had a few late outs with Belle Shannon going to and from with the Eagles, which probably everyone might have got a bit worried about, but we just said ‘we’ve built a group around her’.”

Carlshausen herself got a taste for new experiences, thrown forward in the last few rounds, even kicking two goals in her first game inside 50 with the regular defender enjoying the switch up and said she was more than happy to slot in at either end of the field.

“It was really exciting,” Carlshausen said. “I didn’t have any pressure going into it. It felt like I could just play naturally and play the way that I wanted to play. “I’d definitely be open to it (playing forward more), but half-back is my preferred position.”

As for her development, Carlshausen was still working on her endurance and strength, but was pleased with how her on-field work in the defensive 50 had come along in 2026.

“Just my defending first mindset and defending the player before going off and attacking and being that offensive player (is a main improvement),” she said.

Carlshausen played with a young state group at the national championships and said it was an enjoyable experience despite the end result of 1-3 for the carnival.

“We had more younger girls than what we did than top-age girls this year,” she said. “We were able to lean on each other through that connection piece and it put us in good stead for the Champs. “As much as our campaign didn’t go the way we wanted it to, I think it brought us all together quite close and made an impact.”

Currently studying the first of a four-year course at university, Carlshausen said her university was very flexible and she would be able to complete her degree even if she had to relocate to the other side of the country, a possibility that looms far more likely than likely.

“Yes, I think it will be really exciting and I’ve obviously moved away from home before at boarding school so it will come pretty natural and build some strong independence which will be good,” she said.

“The clubs are really supportive and the uni’s really supportive as well. “They help to work around you for that period of time.”

As for what she would look to address first to get amongst her new teammates in preseason, Carlshausen said it was about building bonds that can help build trust.

“Just create a strong connection with the girls and get them to know my personality and see how it will fit in with the culture at the club, and then from there just proving what I can do to coaches to hopefully debut,” she said.

DRAFT FEATURES:

New South Wales: Evie Bowie, Frances Walsh, Majella Day, Morgan Stevens
Queensland: Zoe Petrides, Summer Browning, Aiyana Pritchard
South Australia: Emily Mableson, Emma Charlton, Ruby Lynch
Vic Country: Greea McKeegan, Lily Milner, Eliza Roche, Lacey Nihill
Vic Metro: Bailee Martin, Tayla Olivieri, Maddison Meagher, Brylee Anderson, Grace McIntyre, Alli Allen
Western Australia: Lexi Strachan