A penchant for performing at the right place at the right time has allowed Wagga's Ally Morphett to take a huge step toward her AFLW dream.
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The 16-year-old Wagga High student's star display in last year's under-15 national championships in Adelaide caught the eye of those that matter, opening the door for selection in the NAB AFL Women's Academy.
The ruck is one of 17 17-year-olds in the 52-player intake for next year's academy, where she will take part in high performance and personal development camps across the country.
Morphett was named in the All-Australian team for the national championships and subsequently skippered the NSW/ACT Rams.
She opted to continue her development with the Murray Bushrangers in Victoria's NAB League this year.
"I got a call a couple of weeks ago I'd been accepted into the academy which I wasn't expecting, it was a huge surprise," she said.
"They watched videos and highlights of my (national championships) games, they've always got their eye on you.
"Someone showed me the pathway to Bushies (Bushrangers) and we decided it's probably the better path to play AFLW, which I'd really like to do."
Morphett, who has a booming kick and can pinch hit as a key forward, will head to Canberra on Friday night for academy induction.
She won't be eligible for the AFLW draft until 2021 but now has two years to hone her craft under the guidance of top coaches.
"I'm hoping to meet some new friends and develop some more skills," she said.
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