Currently, the Tasmanian youth team is doing just that and playing a series of exhibition games against NYL teams during the bye rounds. Tasmania beat Queensland Roar 1-0 last weekend.

Director of Football for Alice Springs, Mark Wakeling, says the same idea could be used to bring together an Aboriginal youth side and give them valuable experience at elite youth level.

"I'm working in the communities all the time, trying to identify good players and get them more involved," Wakeling told au.fourfourtwo.com.

Wakeling is starting to see his hard work pay off with indigenous youngster Alistair Evans currently trialling with Queensland Roar's NYL team. But the remoteness works against the region.

Evans is from a small, remote community called Borroloola, yet it's a football hotspot says Wakeling.

"They don't play AFL, or rugby there, they only play soccer," he said.

"And that team is just crying out for games. Because of where they are, it's hard to be financially viable to get them out of there to play games.

"The feedback I got from Rado [Vidosic, Roar youth coach] is that they have the individual skills but putting those individual skills within a structure of a team - that they have to defend as well - that's what we need to do more in the communities."

At a time when North Queensland marquee signing Jade North is a poster boy for the A-League's indigenous push in the north of Queensland, such an idea could be a springboard for more indigenous talent into the A-League from Central Australia.

"Anything to do with the indigenous population and sport is usually supported by the councils," says Wakeling.

"And the councils are getting to understand that this is a game of finesse which also brings them together from various communities."

What's more, Wakeling is hoping the inspiration of great indigenous footballers of the past will rub off on some of the new generation of kids brought up on other football codes.

"I've also started a street soccer program where kids come in off the street," he added. "The council's got involved and it's a great way to identify talent to bring them into the Charlie Perkins academy."

Perkins was one of the game's most influential indigenous players and advocates of Aboriginal rights.

The academy named after him opened this week in Alice Springs. The Alice Springs-born Perkins rose through the ranks to play football in England for Everton in the 1950s.

"It'd be a good idea to play matches against NYL teams," said Wakeling. "Definitely we could pick a good squad of players."