Eighteen-year-old Liam Holt-Fitz became the second Nightcliff player from Tennant Creek to be recognised as the most outstanding player in an NTFL Men’s Premier League Grand Final when he picked up the TIO Chaney Medal on Saturday night.
In the 2001/02 NTFL Men’s Premier League Grand Final, Robert Campbell added to his two Barkly Australian Football League best on ground grand final medals by picking up the Chaney.
Holt-Fitz, however, was on a winning side after Nightcliff’s drought-breaking 22-point victory over Southern Districts.
The three-person panel made up of Steve “Bully” Abala, Rob Cross and Andrew Hodges collectively awarded the youngster 12 votes, duly recognising him as the most dangerous forward on the ground.
Holt-Fitz looked threatening early but injected himself into the game off the back of his two goals, the first a running goal in the second quarter, before a free kick setshot in the third. He could’ve easily had more goals if not for accuracy but had his hand in a number of the Tigers’ other scoring opportunities.
When the game was there to be won, Holt-Fitz stood up and took his opportunities, his speed and pressure forward of centre playing a major role in securing Nightcliff’s first premiership in 54 years.
The panel recognised Brodie Filo as the second best player on the ground, awarding him eight votes, while Ed Barlow was a clear standout for the Crocs, collecting seven.
Each panellist voted 5-4-3-2-1 for five separate players they believed had the greatest positive impact on the game.
The final results of the 2018/19 TIO Chaney Medal were:
Liam Holt-Fitz – Nightcliff – 12 votes
Brodie Filo – Nightcliff – 8 votes
Ed Barlow – Southern Districts – 7 votes
Jess Budarick – Nightcliff – 5 votes
Blake Grewar – Nightcliff – 3 votes
Sebastian Guilhaus – Southern Districts – 3 votes
Nathan Brown – Nightcliff – 2 votes
Phillip Wills – Nightcliff – 2 votes
Jared Brennan – Southern Districts – 1 vote
Kaine Riley – Nightcliff – 1 vote
