Happy days: Nathalia’s Abby Favaro topped off an impressive season by winning the women’s best and fairest award. Photo: Supplied
It does not get much better than this.
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After a season to remember, including a second grand final win in as many years, Nathalia’s Abby Favaro was crowned the Northern Country Women’s League best and fairest winner on Friday night.
Adding to her ever-growing collection of medals, Favaro had a standout year for the Purples, with the talent also named best on ground in the side’s grand final triumph over Echuca.
This season is the second year in a row Favaro has won the league’s best and fairest award, sharing the medal with teammate Tegan Sutton in 2021.
Favaro said she was pretty happy picking up another medal, with her teammates playing a key role in the success.
“They’re the ones that always kicked it to me, it’s all them really,” Favaro said.
“They do all the hard stuff and I finished off with the goals.”
Two in a row: Nathalia’s Abby Favaro has won the league’s best and fairest two years running.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
The rising star kicked an impressive 45 goals in 11 games played this season and received the league’s leading goal kicker award for her efforts.
“I’ve been kicking the footy since I could walk so I’ve had a lot of practice,” she said.
With two grand final wins in a row, Nathalia will be aiming for a third next year and Favaro said her side was looking forward to going around again.
“The girls are pretty keen to go again,” she said.
“And the Purples like a win so we’re aiming for it.”
Favaro thanked Nathalia coach Simon Quarrell, along with the club and her teammates for helping her win the award.
“We couldn’t have a better team,” she said.
Great year: Moama’s Shaleah Cooper took out the youth girls best and fairest.
The Purples talent was not the only footballer celebrated at the awards night, with Moama’s Shaleah Cooper taking home the Youth Girls best and fairest.
While Cooper’s Magpies fell to the Shepparton Swans in the grand final it was a standout year for the player in the black and white jumper.
Alongside the best and fairest awards both leagues acknowledged rising stars and volunteers of the year on the night.
Benalla’s Isabella Symes took out the senior women’s rising star award, while Shepparton Swans’ Ellie Armstrong claimed the youth girls gong.
Off the field, Tatura’s Carien Hesselberg won the senior women’s volunteer of the year award while Joanne Down took out the youth girls award in the same category.
Payton Hearn won the leading goal kicker award in the youth girls competition.
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