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 talented smooth-moving defender Mia Carlshausen who is one of three National Academy members from the state.

Perth, Western Australia GirlsDefender-Midfielder

Mia Carlshausen

Height: 169cm

Weight: -

DOB: 10-04-2008

Positional Analysis

Carlshausen made her name from playing in Perth’s back half last season, and shot up draft boards with a sensational year which earned her a locked in place with Western Australia’s state side. The talented junior is not new to representative pathways, having won All-Australian honours at the School Sport Australia 15 and Under Championships a few years back. While best known for her role as a defender, Carlshausen did get her chance on-ball at times for the Demons and showed her smarts with ball in hand.

2025 Stats

WAFLW | 14.8 disposals | 1.6 marks | 1.9 tackles (8 games)

AFLW U18s | 9.8 disposals | 1.8 marks | 0.8 tackles | 1.0 inside 50s (4 games)

Key Strengths

One of those players teammates love to get the ball in the hands of often, Carlshausen drives the pill from defence and sets up transitional moves to turn defence into offence. The Perth talent can find the ball and set up forward forays by either intercepting, or more often running into space to open the game up and use her slick kicking skills and smart decision making to breakdown opposition defensive zones.

2026

Carlshausen has some seriously eye-catching traits with ball in hand, and will now look to round out her game in various other ways. Her focus is on building her tank further to be able to run out games, while the 169cm defender could also add extra strength to her frame and increase her defensive pressure. She is always going to be that incredible ball user who looks to get free and play an uncontested-focused game, but with further development in the contested side will only help her even more.

What is great about Carlshausen’s game is that she can push up the ground and look to pinpoint passes inside 50, while also having the ground coverage to duck back into the defensive 50 and provide and extra number. Once her team has possession she darts away and will look to pierce bullets by foot downfield and turn nothing into something.

Summary

Carlshausen is a naturally gifted player with her skills and footy IQ on full display each time she runs out. With further development in 2026, the Perth prospect has the ability to round out her overall profile and take her game to another level.