WITH three of the four club-aligned Northern Academies having completed their stints in the Coates Talent League Girls competition, we cast our eyes across to the fifth and final side, Northern Territory. The Top End squad features two National Academy members and a handful of over-agers to remain competitive in a three-game campaign which includes the Territory’s first ever home match in Darwin.

NORTHERN TERRITORY ACADEMY:

Fixtures:

R7: vs. Sandringham Dragons @ RSEA Park, Moorabbin
R8: vs. Murray Bushrangers @ La Trobe University, Bundoora
R10: vs. Calder Cannons @ TIO Stadium, Darwin

AFLW Academy members: Marika Carlton, Danika McDonald
All Stars representatives: Tatyana Perry
2024 Allies representatives: Marika Carlton, Popi Gikas, Eva Harris, Danica McDonald, Tatyana Perry

Northern Territory won its most recent match in the Coates Talent League Girls competition, defeating Murray Bushrangers in a hard slog, 3.2 (20) to 0.6 (6) last year, following a loss in the torrential rain to a Kiara Boyd-inspired Western Jets three days earlier. The Territory has another three-day turnaround between tonight’s clash with Sandringham Dragons ahead of Sunday’s battle with Murray Bushrangers.

Headlining the draft crop this year is Palmerston Magpies young gun Marika Carlton who is an explosive midfielder with plenty of natural talent. Expect her to take grass every chance she gets, breaking lines and putting pressure on the opposition defence. Speaking of defence, that is where Danika McDonald is likely to lineup, taking an opposition tall and looking to nullify them.

McDonald will be alongside former AFLW Academy member Tatyana Perry who is a Palmerston Magpies teammate of Carlton’s. Perry adds composure and skill to the back half – not to mention ridiculous speed – and has been plying her trade for Oakleigh Chargers in the same competition since relocating to Melbourne.

Despite obviously being a development side, the team has players with state league experience. Popi Gikas has earned games as part of the ladder-leading Woodville-West Torrens side, while Eva Harris has impressed for Essendon’s VFLW side as an athletic tall. She can play in a range of positions.

Outside of those names, Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn is a tenacious small who will find her fair share of the ball and lay stacks of tackles, while bottom-agers Jorja Davey – daughter of Russell and niece of Aaron and Alwyn Sr – and Peggy Rock -an AFLW Under 16s MVP winner – will also bring enormous defensive pressure to the squad.