STRENGTHS:

+ Consistency
+ Endurance
+ Intercept marking
+ Short kicking
+ Rebounding
+ Speed

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Contested ball
- Midfield craft

Charleson established himself as one of the Coates Talent League's premier running defenders in 2024, producing consistent output each week and helping GWV remain competitive in the absence of key personnel. Whether playing deep or high, he has a great knack for racking up possessions on the way out of the backline, thanks largely to a strong speed-endurance mix.

Recent results at the National Draft Combine prove Charleson has a good tank, clocking in at 6:21 in the 2km time trial to put him sixth overall amongst his peers. He leans on that running capacity to be a reliable outlet in transition, either carrying the ball himself or working into space where he times his movements well to mark uncontested, or link up on the overlap. From there, Charleson's speed and ball use take over.

He has enough spring to be an effective interceptor, too. There were several times this year where Charleson rose for gutsy overhead marks sitting in the hole, defying his 183cm standing to hold his own aerially. He has the capacity to apply himself defensively and stick hard tackles, but perhaps can balance his defensive work better with the amount of offensive drive he offers.

In terms of disposal, Charleson is quite neat in the short-range. He connects well in running waves and can link up by hand, or follow up kicks for secondary possessions. His 79 per cent disposal efficiency at the National Championships proved as much, with his best games yielding 23 disposals and seven marks against SA, and 21 disposals and five marks against WA. There, he translated his game against the best of the best.

Charleson also ticked the box in terms of consistency this year. He started the Coates Talent League season with 10-straight games of over 20 disposals, including a high of 30 in Round 9. Some of that was aided by midfield minutes, as he often pushed up to the contest as an extra number or was utilised at the centre bounces due to some of GWV's frontline on-ballers missing through injury, representative, or school football commitments.

Further developing his midfield craft will make Charleson an even more enticing prospect. His ball use suffered a little when thrown into the cut and thrust of stoppages, so being able to drive his legs and be a greater contested ball winner will help make him a more effective option there. At the National Championships, over 80 per cent of his possessions were uncontested, albeit as a half-back.