Whittlesea’s Deanna Berry a top prospect for inaugural women’s national competition after starring role at youth girls tournament

DEANNA Berry is on track to be one of the rising stars of the inaugural national women’s AFL competition when it launches in coming years.

Whittlesea's Deanna Berry was named in the All-Australian team after starring at the recent Youth Girls Footy National Championships. Picture: Adam Elwood

TIMING is clearly one of Deanna Berry’s strengths.

The 17-year-old is one of the rising stars of the Victorian Women’s Football League and appears on track to be part of the AFL’s first national women’s competition, which has been earmarked for 2017.

Berry could be close to the peak of her powers by the time the competition is rolled out.

Her precise timing is something defenders have become used to being mesmerised by in recent years.

When Berry leaps for a ball, it generally sticks, such is her ability inside attacking 50.

The Whittlesea resident put her name up in lights at the recent Youth Girls National Championships in Western Australia, winning a place in the All-Australian team after being part of Vic Metro’s title-winning run.

“Going over there, we had something to win back,” Berry said.

“It’s never felt like that before because we’ve always had the cup in our hands.

“We were the hunter this year and it was so much better because you had something to motivate you to win back.”

Berry played a significant role in her team’s 3.4 (22) to 2.3 (15) grand final win over Queensland, spending time marking one of the country’s top talents, Tayla Harris.

“It was just grouse to come home with that cup and an unbelievable feeling to be able to get All-Australian too,” she said.

Berry said youth girls footballers across the country were starting to believe their dream of playing AFL was a realistic possibility.

“You ask every girl what they want to get out of the carnival and they say ‘well, I want to play AFL’,” she said.

“I think everyone has that goal to play on the MCG and play for an AFL club as a career.

“Even if it doesn’t happen in our time, we might be a coach or something.

“But everyone aspires to go along and play a role in the AFL for women.”

Berry, who previously played with Northern Football League club Mernda, has wasted little time making her mark after switching to Division 2 VWFL club Montmorency this year.

The forward booted 12 goals on debut against VU-St Albans this month, helping the Magpies extend their winning start to 2015.