The Cazalys NT Talent Academy Under 18 Girls have officially announced their squad heading to Melbourne for their 2025 Coates Talent League campaign.
Following a strong showing in 2024 — highlighted by impressive wins over AFL Cairns and the Murray Bushrangers — confidence is high among the team as they prepare for a bigger and better season. Morale is further boosted by the historic inclusion of their first-ever home Coates Talent League match, to be played in Darwin at TIO Oval 2 on Saturday, June 14.
The squad is stacked with emerging talent from across the Northern Territory, with several players hoping to push their case for selection in the 2025 Telstra AFLW Draft, set for December 15.
Among the headline names is 2025 NT News NTFL Rising Star and 2024/25 TIO NTFL Women’s Premier League Grand Final Best on Ground, Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn. She’s joined by standout talents Tatyana Perry, Marika Carlton, and Danika McDonald, who recently impressed in the Australia Under 18s vs All-Stars showcase in April.
Also named is Bella Foster from Pioneer, coming off a sensational 2024 season in Central Australia. Foster claimed the TIO CAFL Women’s Rising Star award and finished runner-up in the Under 17 Best and Fairest count.
Layla May, the Darwin Buffaloes product and NT’s 2025 Under 16 MVP from their Sydney tour earlier this year, returns to the squad, alongside 2024 All-Australian selection Peggy Rock, who is set to make a big impact.
The NT Talent Academy kicks off its campaign against the Sandringham Dragons on Thursday, May 29 at 6:45pm at RSEA Park. They will then face the Murray Bushrangers on Sunday, June 1 at 11:30am at La Trobe University, before returning home for their historic match against the Calder Cannons on Saturday, June 14 at 5:00pm at TIO Oval 2. (All times local.)
FULL TEAM:
Backline: Bella Foster, Danika McDonald, Bella McLean, Tatyana Perry, Lexie Cagney, Lakhyah Hill
Centre: Demi-Lee Braun, Taelah Smith, Elsie Harden
Forward: Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn, Cate Twaddle, Peggy Rock, Jorja Davey, Bonnie Brown, Sharna Edwards
Followers: Jade Moir, Aaliyah Mukhlis, Marika Carlton
Interchange: Lavinah Pollo, L’eja Roe, Layla May, Summer Malone, Gabriella Reisinger
Emergency: Shakana Rankine