WAFL 2026: Former Collingwood defender Charlie Dean on why he decided to continue career at Perth Demons

Charlie Dean says he decided to continue his football career at Perth after he fell in love with the club’s story of success and struggle. And now the former Collingwood defender is determined to be part of writing its next chapter as the Demons look to build on their first finals win this century. Dean is one of the big-name recruits in the WAFL ahead of the season opener, heading to Mineral Resources Park after 12 games in four injury-hit seasons at the Magpies. A powerful 195cm defender, Dean has already plenty of expectation on his broad shoulders after being ranked 10th in The West Australian’s Top 40 WAFL players for 2026. The 24-year-old is one of six Demons on the list, boding well for their upcoming campaign as the club looks to finally end a 49-year premiership drought. Dean was one of the most in-demand footballers for state league clubs across the country, but said the Demons’ rise back up the ladder resonated with him the most. “Perth’s story was the one that really hit home with me. When I came off the list at Collingwood, I took a bit of time to step away from footy, and then once I was ready to make my decision, I decided just getting back to a spot where I was going to love my footy was going to be the most important thing,” he told The West Australian. “That involved a couple of things. One was being around people I could relate too and that I want to play for and play with. (Coach) Mark Stone, (footy boss) Brad Dodd, (co-captain) Charlie Constable - they were key people who made me feel welcome right from the start. “Perth itself is just a remarkable footy club. I’ve only been there three months but some of the stories I’ve already heard about how successful the 70s were and those days, but the fact that those fans and past players have stuck with the club and are still supporting it – I’ve heard the club was on its knees for a while there, on the ropes and to come out from that and hopefully win another premiership would be an amazing story.” Hope was renewed at Perth last year in a big way on the back of their most successful season in decades, with their elimination final victory their first post-season since 1997. The addition of Dean only strengthens the club’s pursuit of an elusive eighth premiership, adding to the squad, which includes reigning Sandover medallist Constable, former Geelong midfielder Brandan Parfitt, spearhead Aaron Clarke, and fellow recruit Indhi Kirk. “It’s bigger than yourself, so to be a part of a footy club that’s had so many people apart of it for the past 50 years since the last premiership, to be a part of that you’re not only doing it for yourself and you’re not just the group that’s done it, but there’s a number of steps taken in the past few years,” Dean said. “Hopefully, we’ve added a few more bits of the puzzle this year. It would mean so much to a lot of people, and I’m starting to understand that.” Dean’s first focus is tackling some of the best forwards in the WAFL, with matchups against former Magpies teammate Trey Ruscoe and West Perth’s five-time Bernie Naylor medallist Tyler Keitel on his radar. “I’m looking forward to playing on the best players in the WAFL. It’s certainly a reason why I came here as well, there’s some really standout forwards,” he said. “I played a bit with Trey Ruscoe at Collingwood, so I am looking forward to the challenge of playing on him. We’ll see how Coxy (Mason Cox) goes at Freo, but I’ve played on him a fair bit at training over the last four years. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes for us to win. As a competitor, you want to play on the best players and have an impact for your team.” While Dean might not have played in any finals during his stint at Collingwood, he planned to bring lessons from his time under premiership coach Craig McRae to help Perth. “Fly was an amazing coach and still is. He was critical in those late moments in a game, so that’s one thing, we did a lot of late game scenarios at Collingwood, probably more than any other club,” he said. “I’ve still got my notebook from Collingwood and still got a few lessons, so I’m talking to Stoney about a few of those things. “Being around that premiership team in 2023, although I was injured that year, it was cool, because I wasn’t playing VFL, I was able to immerse myself in that finals campaign and go to all the meetings. Some of the things I observed of key players in big moments, how they prepared themselves for those big games, are certainly lessons I will take with me.”