Charlie Rule won’t be top of the list when fans think of Australians playing in the WSL.
The 23-year-old hasn’t played for one of the league’s ‘big four’, featured in any team of the season lists, nor any player rankings of note. Regardless, Rule has quietly become one of the WSL’s ones to watch.
She started 17 of Brighton’s 22 league games last season, her best yet since joining the team from Sydney FC in 2023. Compared with other WSL players in her position, Rule ranks fourth for average recoveries per 90 minutes and average passes per 90 minutes, only behind Manchester City’s Alex Greenwood and Chelsea’s Katie McCabe (Wyscout).
After such a strong 2025-26 season, Rule isn’t ready to rest on her laurels.
“The goal of this season is to secure a starting spot for the Matildas at the World Cup,” she told The Cutback during Brighton’s pre-season preparations. “I think I can definitely get there, but this season is really important.
“I’m playing against the top, top teams now. It’s a very good league, it keeps getting better and I think my confidence is definitely growing. I’m ready to just keep pushing and put myself in the best position to start for the Matildas this next summer.”
Rule can’t do that alone. She’ll need her Brighton team to continue their steady progress up the WSL table this season, but the pressure of competing with London City Lionesses’ record-breaking signings and Tottenham’s big ambition will be tricky. London City finished one point ahead of Brighton last season, while Spurs were nine points beyond them.
Her drive to start for the Matildas comes in part from a desire to make up for lost time. Much of Rule’s time at Brighton has been hampered by a hip injury that required surgery, forcing her to miss 15 months of football before returning last March.
In 2025-26, she finally found the consistency she’d been striving for. That has partly been down to staying injury free, but Rule also points to the influence of head coach and former Australia men’s international Dario Vidošić.
“He is definitely the best coach I’ve worked with tactically,” she says. “He’s always pushing my brain and mental strength on the pitch.
“I’ve definitely not thought of football in this way before. It’s been a lot of learning and I’m definitely thinking a lot more on the pitch. I’ve become a smarter player and he’s such a good coach to work with as I’ve developed from a young player to now playing more in the league”.
Vidošić joined as Brighton head coach in 2024, when Rule was already at the club. Rule had worked with Vidošić’s late father Rado when he was part of the Young Matildas coaching set up for the 2022 U-20 Women’s World Cup. Rado later joined Dario at Brighton as head of women and girls’ coaching in 2025.
Rado Vidošić, a highly respected coaching figure in Australia, passed away in January of this year. Rule explains: “It was hard for the team, but I think we all came together stronger and ended the season really well working with Dario.”
Brighton’s season ended with their first ever FA Cup final appearance at Wembley in May. The match ultimately ended in a 4-0 defeat to Manchester City but Rado was celebrated before kick off with a huge banner in his honour.
Rule’s steady progression through the Australian youth setup led to a senior debut for the Matildas in 2023, but she would have to wait three years to appear for the national team again. Her second appearance came in this year’s Asian Cup in Australia following a successful rehabilitation of her hip.
Rule believes that the Matildas’ semi-final appearance at their home World Cup three years ago and recent Asian Cup run shows the momentum that is building around women’s football in Australia.
“I think this World Cup is crucial, coming off the back of the recent World Cup in Australia, there were a lot of positive messages around the Matildas and they became really popular. This is another opportunity to push women’s football in Australia and keep that momentum going.
“We do need to make the most of it, we need to keep going and push forward. We need to keep the attention of the Australian nation and keep them looking forward to watching this team.”
When pressed on whether she thinks the Matildas have what it takes to win the 2027 Women’s World Cup, Rule is clear.
“Yeah, I do. I think being in camps recently, I think I’ve started to realise the quality in the team and the potential we can reach when we’re playing well. Being a part of it and being within the environment, I can feel they want to achieve something special, and it’s nice to be a part of.
“I think it’s definitely possible, especially as the girls with all the experience are coming to the end of their careers. I think it’s even more special, they want to do it”.
Rule has switched between centre-back and right-back for club and country, and has even spent time inverting into midfield during games, but her physical engine and ability on the ball has made her an extremely versatile defender.
She’s reluctant to commit herself to one position and highlights her strengths in both roles, but there’s definitely a hunger to get involved in attacking plays and it’s right-back where Rule has featured most for Brighton.
As one of many gritty players in a Brighton squad that goes against the grain of teams stacked with big names, keep an eye out for an unsung hero like Rule, who might just make a name for herself this season.