It was just a phone call out of the blue on a Friday afternoon.
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"You're in the AFL Women's academy," the voice on the other end of the line said.
And just like that, Queanbeyan Tigers young gun Tarni Evans' dream has edged so much closer to reality.
Queanbeyan duo Evans and Jayde Hamilton will join Belconnen Magpies prospect Emily Pease in the AFL Women's academy as they set their sights on the draft.
Hamilton's recognition as one of the brightest stars in the country comes weeks after her sister Lexie Hamilton was drafted by the Gold Coast Suns.
She became one of four players to be drafted straight out of the AFL Canberra competition and onto an AFLW list in an expanded 14-team league.
Three of them came from Queanbeyan in Hamilton, Hannah Dunn and Jacqueline Parry - now a pair of new Tigers are among those looking to follow in their footsteps.
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"I'm so stoked, it's crazy, pretty exciting," Evans said.
"I hope [it sets me up for next year], that would be the aim at the moment. I'll have a crack next year and see how we go.
"It's a really good opportunity we've got. When we heard the names come through, we were all stoked, it was so exciting.
"Seeing Hannah, Lex and Jackie [get drafted] is so exciting. It will be cool to watch them play, and we'll see if we can get a few more there next year.
"That would be great, we'll see."
Selection in the AFLW academy is the latest step in Evans' meteoric rise after she shifted to Queanbeyan from the coast, having already helped the Tigers to the AFL Canberra title.
The Canberra trio will cross paths in the AFLW academy having already played together for the Eastern Allies in the national under 18 championships this year.
They will link up with the GWS Giants for training throughout December and January before joining the rest of the academy group for high performance camps in January, April and August.
The academy intake of 52 players from every state and territory will come together for accelerated football and personal development camps across the country next year.
Thirty-five players from the wider squad are 17-year-old prospects eligible on the 2020 AFLW draft.
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These are the best young talents in the country. Among them of course are Hamilton, Evans, and Pease.
The remaining crop from the group of 52 are 16-year-olds being given a taste of life at the elite level before they enter their draft year next season.
"With the introduction of four new AFLW teams in 2020 the demand for young talent is higher than ever," AFL female talent manager Sophia Samartzis said.
"I look forward to the development of the players over the next 12 months as they strive for the dream of playing in the AFLW."