The talented year 11 student was named in the level two squad off the back of strong performances in the under 18s NAB League women's league where she was named best and fairest for the Murray Bushrangers.

The phone call on Thursday still came as a complete shock to Favell.

"I am very excited and surprised," she said.

"I was actually at the formal photos when I got the call."

Favell was among five of the most promising female footballers from New South Wales and the ACT alongside Murray Bushrangers teammate Ally Morphett from Wagga who was named in the level one squad.

The rising star will receive a scholarship that provides high-performance camps and personal development opportunities over a 12-month period.

Favell is looking forward to taking on the higher level of training.

"The training will hopefully get me to where I need to be heading into next year," she said.

"It will be good exposure as well to help get my name out there a bit more."

Favell is also gearing up for her second season at the Bushrangers having had their first preseason training run on Wednesday night.

AFL NSW/ACT Female Talent Manager, Ash Moeller said he is pleased to see an increase of AFL NSW/ACT representation in the Academy, going from three members to five in 2020.

"We are very pleased to have five girls selected in the AFLW Academy's 2020 intake, and it further highlights the great progress we are making in the talent space," Moeller said.

"Whilst the Academy plays host to the most talented U18 girls across the country it has an even balance of playing types with the aim to assist girls on and off the field in 2020 in conjunction with their state representation.

"The news follows a great result in the 2019 NAB AFLW draft in which 18 NSW/ACT based girls were taken in the draft with five having been through the pathway in the past two years."

The NAB AFLW Academy is part of the NAB AFLW Rising Stars Program, which helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL & AFLW.

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