Two of the MIA's up and coming female footballers have had their hard work recognised at the Murray Bushrangers awards night held recently.
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Griffith's Abby Favell picked up the best and fairest in the under 18s side while St Francis student Mikayla Jones was also named the most valued player in the under 16s team.
Abby was named in the Bushrangers best players in six of the eight games she played this season but still said the award came as a bit of a surprise.
"It was a little bit unexpected, but it was really exciting," she said.
It was the Griffith teenagers first season with the Bushrangers, and she has really enjoyed playing in the women's competition in Victoria.
"I love it. It is really different to playing up here with it being a stronger competition," she said.
"It has been really good to play with a how bunch of different girls."
It has been a stellar year for Abby on the footballing field as she has represented her state with the Eastern Allies back in July and she is hoping this is just the beginning.
"Couldn't have really done much more," she said.
"As a bottom age player I'm pretty happy with how far I have gone this year, but hopefully I can go a bit further next year."
Abby believes that it is her fitness which allows her to really catch the eyes of the coaches.
"Everyone has been commenting on my fitness and my running," she said.
"A lot of the girls can't run as far, and I don't know why that is, must be something to do with NSW Country."
It was a tough season for the under 18s side who only picked up two wins across their nine games, but Abby believes there were positives to take out of it.
"We had a couple of close losses, and the Bushies are only two years old, so we were pretty happy with how we went," she said.
"Hopefully next year we will have a stronger pre-season and go a bit better."
With trials only two weeks away, Abby was looking forward to getting back down their again for next season and knows the areas she has to work on.
"Definitely have to work on my skills and my strength," she said.
"If I can get a bit stronger, that would be good."
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