FOES in local footy, Huntly midfielder Ruby Campbell and Kangaroo Flat utility Alana Long are teaming up to make their state debut and take on the best youth girls in the country.
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The Bendigo Senior Secondary College students leave on Friday for Canberra, where they will play for Victoria Country at the AFL's national under-18 female championships.
Long, 17, is in the squad's leadership group.
She won a premiership playing for Echuca in the Shepparton league in 2013 - her first season of youth girls' football - but has moved to Bendigo for year 12 and is now at the Kangaroos.
She is part of AFL Victoria's Youth Girls Academy, based at the Calder Cannons.
"Going away and playing at that intense level of football will be an awesome experience," Long said.
Campbell, 16, is the youngest of three sisters (Lily and Grace play for Bendigo Thunder) and is in her fifth year at the Hawks. Grace was in last year's Vic Country team.
"This was the first time I tried out for the state team but I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it," she said.
Both girls thanked the sponsors who are helping meet the cost of their trip.
Other central Victorians in the state team include Isabella Ayre from Kerang, Kelly Shotton from Rochester and Kyneton's Ainslie Kemp.
