Talented Territory trio Marika Carlton, Shakalia Gardiner-Dunn and Danika McDonald have been included in a 49-player squad to feature in the 2024 Marsh AFL National Futures Girls program.
The squad is comprised of the most talented and promising U17 female footballers from across the country with all players eligible for selection in next year's AFLW draft.
Carlton has been on the radar of AFL recruiters for a couple of years now after producing scintillating football at junior level in the Northern Territory Football League.
In 2022/23 she made headlines across the country with her unprecedented season at junior level, which included claiming four major individual awards.
The Palmerston Magpies junior won both the NTFL's U16 and U18s Girls competition best-and-fairest awards, while also being judged best afield in both of her team's premiership wins.
Last season, Carlton made a seamless step up to senior football winning the NTFL Women's Premier League Rising Star award and finishing fifth in the competition best-and-fairest.
McDonald – a Central Australian – enjoyed a tremendous 2023 season, which included making her Central Australian Football League debut for Federal and taking out the competition's Rising Star award.
She also captained both the Northern Territory U16s team and the Woomeras representative team and has more recently gone on to represent the Allies.
Gardiner-Dunn is a talented forward who has represented the Northern Territory on multiple occasions and won the NTFL's U16 Leading Goalkicker award.
The AFL National Futures Girls program provides future AFLW draft prospects the opportunity to develop together in an elite environment and showcase their talent to recruiters.
It will feature a talent showcase match at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday, August 31, with the game taking place ahead of the AFLW Week 1 clash between Geelong and Melbourne.
Players were selected based on nominations from state talent programs, national selectors, and AFLW clubs.
AFL National Academy Manager Tarkyn Lockyer said that he is excited about the talent involved in this year's program.
"It is extremely exciting to have many of the best under-17 footballers from across the country coming together in Melbourne to take part in the Marsh AFL National Futures Girls program," Lockyer said.
"The Futures program provides a great opportunity for our young footballers to come together in a high-performance environment as they prepare to enter their draft year.
"Players will engage in a host of training and football education sessions, but the highlight will be Saturday's game at GMHBA Stadium, which will provide a great experience for our young stars to showcase their talent as part of Week 1 of the 2024 NAB AFLW Season."
