The Rebels are set to launch a futures squad as part of their youth girls state academy, primarily aimed for 13 to 15 year-old talent coming through the region’s ranks.

AFL Goldfields football development manager Tim Shearer said the futures academy – the first in the state – would help fast-track what the Rebels planned would become under-18 and under-16 girls’ programs that mirror the club’s TAC Cup pathway.

“The youth girls league works really well for 13 to 18-year-old girls at the moment but it really is a big six-year age group when you move into academy work,” Shearer said.

“We find the younger and newer players are generally really good with generic ball skills and working through kicking and handballing, but when they move into match practice against more physically mature girls they can sometimes second-guess themselves.

“We want them to move into the Rebels academy and hopefully state footy.”

Shearer said futures squad players would still have the option to train with the academy if they wanted.

The Rebels are set to finalise their fourth youth girls academy intake.

About 50 candidates worked through final trials and scratch matches in a fourth and final meet at Ballarat High School on Wednesday.

The state’s academy structure is expanding from three to six academies across Victoria and is set to become more aligned with traditional TAC Cup boundaries.

Rebels from Geelong will move into a Geelong Falcons and Western Jets combined program and those in Bendigo will now work in a combined Bendigo Pioneers and Murray Bushrangers academy.

The Rebels will retain girls from Maryborough, Castlemaine and Kyneton, while still drawing players from as far as Dimboola, Stawell, Timboon, Portland and Navarre, mostly via the broad Ararat Storm recruiting to compete in the Ballarat Football League youth girls.

Established BFL girls Abbi Bolt (Darley), Caitlin Broadfoot (Riddells Creek) and Eshe Lane (Gisborne) have already been selected for new academies – Bolt to the Falcons/Jets and Broadfoot and Lane to Calder Cannons. Former Rebel Lily Mithen will move to Geelong but retains strong ties with the Rebels. Mithen and Rebel Emma Lynch are both representing Australia in a 12-player under-16 tour of New Zealand these school holidays.