Poppy O'Keeffe and Annie Yates are joining the National Training Centre in Melbourne after impressing at trials and will join up with the best players in the state next season.

They're now in the pathway towards the Junior Matildas squad and will play for the NTC in the NPL Victoria girls competition from 2022.

Yates, who's relocating to Melbourne, is in the under-15 squad and Wangaratta-based O'Keeffe will play with the NTC under-14s.

"It's more recognition for the girls we've had coming through the program," Murray United chairman Darren Yates said.

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"All the girls at the club have really benefited from playing against the best boys in the state.

"It's been a real challenge for them but if they can meet that challenge, it's really good for their development in terms of their speed, decision-making and physical development, having to compete with boys that are much bigger.

"It's a credit to the club and to (technical director) Adam Carty, who's been a big advocate for creating opportunities for the girls through the boys' NPL."

Both girls were offered positions as train-on players for 2021 and trained with the NTC once a week but are now set to increase that commitment to four sessions a week as well as game days.

The female equivalent of an A-League academy, every state has an NTC overseen by Football Australia which brings together elite players in each age group.

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