The 2019/20 NTFL Gwynne Medal count promises to be a thrilling affair with a number of talented female footballers in the running to claim the prize.
By 9pm tomorrow night at the DoubleTree Hilton Esplanade Grand Ballroom the winner would have been announced and their name will be etched in the history books.
How does voting work?
As is customary every season, it is the umpires who vote 3-2-1 on the best performers following each game of the home and away season and the votes are tallied to reveal a winner. In the instance of two or more players finishing with the same votes then multiple winners will be declared.
Any player found guilty of an offence and suspended for a period of matches during the 2019/20 season is ineligible to win the Gwynne Medal.
How will the Gwynne Medal vote count work?
A leaderboard at Round 6 and Round 12 will show the running tally before the votes are read round by round, game by game for Rounds 13 to Round 18.
Who is likely to be in the running?
Top-placed Waratah has a number of candidates in with a good chance, but probably none more successful than co-captain Lisa Roberts who has enjoyed a consistent season and played all but one game.
Roberts already has one Gwynne Medal and will be hoping to add another, but playing in such a strong side, she could have plenty of teammates taking votes from her.
Others who could feature in the votes for Tahs are Jenna Singh, Amy Chittick and fellow co-captain and team-leading goalkicker Lauren O’Shea, while Sherayn Puruntatameri has also enjoyed some flashes of brilliance.
Grand Final opponents Southern Districts should also have a number of players that catch the eye of umpires.
Ebony Miller had three bags of 10 goals this season and should feature prominently, while Lateesha Jeffrey, Bella Clarke and Mattea Breed have both been prominent through 2019/20.
The Darwin Buffettes are another side who enjoyed some nice wins during the season and are stacked with potential vote-winners.
Kylie Duggan has arguably been their best player throughout 2019/20 and should register multiple best on ground performances, especially after Machaelia Roberts headed south to join the Collingwood AFLW side.
Domonique Carbone is another to regularly feature in the Buffettes’ best players, along with Tayla Hart-Aluni, who had a very consistent season.
PINT, one of the competition’s surprise packets have had multiple standout players this season with Kate Streader and Erin Hetherington expected to poll well, along with Jasmyn Hewett before she departed for her own AFLW commitments.
Speaking of AFLW commitments, expect Danielle Ponter (St Mary’s) and Tayla Thorn (Southern Districts) to also attract plenty of votes before they departed to their respective clubs to prepare for the 2020 season.
The Palmerston Magpies did not finish the season the way they would have liked but that won’t stop several of the Magpies players from attracting votes.
Janet Baird won the top honour last season and is expected to do well again, while teammates Freda Puruntatameri, Arthurina Moreen and Tabitha May all enjoyed strong campaigns.
Nightcliff is another club who won enough games to generate some healthy votes, with this season’s Tigers best and fairest Eliza Morrison, likely to lead the way. Ruckwoman Emma-Lou Wolsey and flashy runner Shantel Miskin-Ripa are also among their standout players this season.
Other players that could feature in the count include Wanderers pair Morgan Johnston and Sophie Armistead and Chinette Suapero from St Mary’s.
What other awards are handed out at the Nichols Medal event?
Nichols Medal – Men’s Premier League
Gwynne Medal – Women’s Premier League
Mitch Lee Medal – Men’s Division 1
Lancaster Medal – Men’s Division 2
Dennis Dunn Leading Goalkicker sponsored by Darwin Family Law – Men’s Premier League
Women’s Leading Goalkicker
Men’s Division 1 Leading Goalkicker
Men’s Division 2 Leading Goalkicker
Kennards Hire Volunteer of the Year
Statewide Super Club of the Year
NT News Rising Star
Women’s Rising Star
NT News/Darwin Business Machines Player of the Year
ABC Player of the Year
ABC Umpire of the Year
What is the history of the Gwynne Medal?
In late 2016 the NTFL Women’s Best and Fairest Medal was renamed the Gwynne Medal in recognition of Colleen Gwynne who has played a huge role in developing women’s football in the Northern Territory.
Having played three seasons with the St Mary’s Football Club and coached and played nine seasons with the Waratah Football Club, at the time of the medal’s renaming, Gwynne had been a member of nine premierships. Gwynne had also represented the Northern Territory at the national level.
A full list of the previous winners and a link to more history can be viewed online here.
