Launceston young gun Jessica McCallumSmith has the potential to be among Australia's next crop of Matildas.
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That's the view of Football Australia after the 15-year-old was shortlisted alongside four other Tasmanians - Devonport's Annalee Bidwell and Kingborough trio Eloise Paine and Holly and Kate Bonnertz-Benn - for under-17 talent program 'Junior Matildas'.
McCallumSmith, who will be visited in training by FA's women's technical advisor and under-17 head coach Rae Dower in the near future, said she had not been expecting the news.
"Not at all - especially seeing it's been so long since I've played soccer [at a level] to be recognised," McCallumSmith said.
"State was in 2019, which was when most of the scouting was done, so to get an email last week was a bit of a shock."
The youngest of four soccer-loving siblings, McCallumSmith has played club soccer since the age of four.
She was part of the NTJSA's Oceania Cup-winning under-14s side in 2019 and Launceston Grammar's SATIS champions in 2020.
McCallumSmith hopes to compete in the Women's Super League this year after making the move from Riverside Olympic to Launceston United in the off-season.
"It's an amazing bunch of girls and I've played with a fair few of them last year for school," she said.
"The coaching is really good so I'm really keen for it."
Football Tasmania chief executive Matt Bulkeley said the five selections proved women's soccer was going from strength to strength.
"It's wonderful to see players from each major region of Tasmania represented," Bulkeley said.
"This year the WSL has expanded to seven teams ... with the addition of Launceston United and we're currently waiting to hear whether Launceston has been successful in its bid to host matches for the 2023 Women's World Cup.
"I'm sure all the players selected in the squad will be watching the World Cup host city announcement closely, and you never know, one of them might even have the honour of wearing the green and gold at UTAS Stadium in 2023."