Talented Territorian Tatyana Perry will have an opportunity to put her best foot forward to AFLW recruiters when she represents Australia in Saturday's showcase clash against the Under 23 All-Stars team.
Perry is a member of the 2024 Marsh AFL National Academy Girls squad who will face the U23s at Ikon Park in Melbourne.
The teenager has spent the past couple of days in Melbourne with the Academy in preparation for the match.
Perry has been a highly-rated junior for Northern Territory Football League club Palmerston for a number of years and was awarded the NTFL's Women's Premier League Rising Star award in 2022/23.
Northern Territory's Talent Manager Shannon Millar said tomorrow's game was a great opportunity for Perry.
"It is a huge opportunity for her," Millar told SEN's Fridays in the Top End.
"She is a great talent and one of the strongest (Territory prospects) coming through at the moment.
"She reads the ball really well and doesn't hesitate around the ball."
Perry played 13 Women's Premier League games for Palmerston during the most recent NTFL season and was also rewarded with selection in the league's representative team, which defeated Essendon in January.
Previously, the highly-skilled utility has represented both the Northern Territory and Allies at national level.
Millar said that Perry's best position was across half-back, which suited her tremendous speed and agility.
"She cuts it (the ball) off really well.
"She's got that natural agility and speed and if we keep working with her she is just going to get stronger in that area.
"Hopefully she can bring those (attributes) tomorrow because there will be plenty of eyes on that game in regard to AFLW clubs watching.
"She is in her draft year as well, so she's eligible for the draft and that's obviously something she's really working hard towards."
The National Academy is described as an 'accelerated football and personal development program' that provides the country's most talented kids with experiences and opportunities to best prepare them for the next step in their football journey.
Saturday's game will be the first of two matches as part of the National Academy's 2024 program, with a second game to be scheduled for the King's Birthday weekend.
The U23 All-Stars will be comprised of players who compete in the Coates Talent League and VFLW competition with players selected from nominations submitted by all AFLW clubs.
