Perry, 19, is the new host of Football Stars of Tomorrow, taking over the role from Channel Nine personality Stephanie Brantz.

"It's been a lot of fun but certainly a learning experience. It's something I've never done before," she told au.foufourtwo.com.

"Being on the other side of the microphone and being the one asking the questions and coming up with things rather than just standing there answering - I guess I am learning on my feet a little bit in developing an on-screen manner."

The show airs at 5.30pm this Wednesday on digital sports channel ONE HD due to live swimming, and reverts back to a 6.30pm timeslot after this week.

"It's very light-hearted and I like the fact we focus on grass-roots football who play on the weekend and help out down at clubs," said Perry.

"And the producer Andy Paschalidis and I have also wanted to focus more on women's football."

There are "Ones to watch" and weekly celebrity challenges with AFL star Adam Goodes and swimmer Libby Trickett appearing in upcoming episodes. The show also features reporter Ortenzia Grunseit, a former Miss Universe Australia runner-up and model.

Energetic Perry is a rare dual international having made her international cricket debut for Australia at the age of 16, becoming the youngest cricketer to represent Australia in a One-Day Match in 2007.

Just two weeks later, in August, she played her first football match for Australia, scoring a goal in the second minute of the Olympic qualifying match against Hong Kong.

Perry is set to resume her W-League career later this year with Canberra United alongside Sally Shipard in defence. And with the Women's World Cup less than a year away, she knows competition will be fierce for a spot on the plane to Germany with the Asian Cup winners..

And winning the Cup in May underlined how difficult it will be for Perry to force her way into the Matilda squad.

"I was in the Caribbean playing for Australia in cricket when they won in China," Perry revealed.

"Everyone sees the World Cup as a fantastic chance to have a follow up event after this year's World Cup with the Socceroos and there are so many great young players coming through in the W-League."

But for the moment she is raising football's profile on TV while playing two codes and studying. It's a busy life but one that's opening her eyes.

She added: "It's nice now to have an appreciation from the other side of the fence.

"They're no longer those pesky journos! I now totally understand how hard the job is."

Picture: Jason McCormack