REGIONAL pride will be at stake when the best North West's best footballers play host to the best from the North Coast on Saturday.
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Tamworth No.1 Oval will be abuzz with excitement as some of the region's best players take to the field in an action-packed day of football.
The day will begin at 10.30am when the best youth girls from AFL North West do battle with the best youth girls from the North Coast.
After the youth girls game, the under-13, under-15 and under-17 teams will have their time on the main stage.
However, this year's event will have a different spectacle, as the women's game features as the showcase game from 5pm.
AFL North West community football manager Paul Taylor said the women's match would claim main event status in the absence of a men's game.
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"It's a great time of year when representative footy rolls into town," Taylor told the One Percenters Podcast.
"The girls are the main event this year and given the 5pm start time they will be playing under lights, which will be a bit of a novelty for them as well."
Taylor said the women's game was shaping up to be a competitive battle.
"I think it will be a tight game, but I don't think the long weekend has necessarily suited all players from both leagues," he said.
"No disrespect to the ladies playing, but because of that I don't think we will be seeing the top 22 players from both competitions go at it.
"However, I still think it will be a great game and hopefully will be pretty close."
As for a revival of men's representative football, Taylor said work was being done to resume the fixture in 2020.
"It was North Coast who opted not to field a team this year, which I think is a reflection of the commitment or lack thereof from their players over the last couple of years," he said.
"What has been pleasing is to see, some players push for other players from other clubs to get involved.
"Hopefully that converts into commitment and maybe next year North Coast will be in a position to take the field."
Entry into Saturday's games is free for spectators.