Launceston was the final stop for the tryouts in the state, with players aged 11 to 15 already attending tryouts in Hobart and Turners Beach. The Next Generation Academy will select promising young players to be part of a 10 week elite development program in each region of Tasmania, starting on Monday.

Manager of Women's Football and Talent Pathways at North Melbourne, Laura Kane, said they have been overwhelmed by the number of registrations and are impressed with what they’ve seen. “It’s been really pleasing to see the talent of both boys and girls, it’s a really high standard,” said Ms Kane. 

The academy is aiming to fill a current gap in development programs in Tasmania, particularly for young girls aged between 11 and 15. “With the national competition starting next year it's really important that we have the full pathway available to girls and this is just one piece of the puzzle,” said Ms Kane. 

The development program not only focusses on on-field skill development but also a range of off-field elements, such as health, nutrition, communication and leadership. 

High Performance Manager at AFL Tasmania, Mathew Armstrong said he has been impressed with what he’s seen of the state's young talent. “If enthusiasm and desire is any indication, they’re on the right track,’ said Mr Armstrong.

Following the tryouts North Melbourne will select which players have made it into the academy. They will be looking for kicking, marking, handballing, game sense, fitness and to support indigenous and multicultural players when they make their selection. But Ms Kane said at the end of the day, “they certainly don't have to be the best footballers, they just have to love footy and come along and have a go and we’ll see if we can pick them in our academy.”

Ms Kane said they aim to take as many as they can into the program. “We’ll look to expand the program next year... to see if we can have as many kids as possible participating,” said Ms Kane.

The number of keen hopefuls at the tryouts hasn’t surprised Ms Kane, “We knew there was a lot of talented kids here and we know there's a lot of kids and families here that love their footy.”