AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) is pleased to have assembled a quality panel to help decide the best performer in the Men's Premier League Grand Final, with the winner to receive the distinguished Chaney Medal, presented by TIO.
2019/20 TIO NTFL Grand Final Ambassador, Gilbert McAdam will fill the panel position reserved for a notable NT football person. McAdam was bestowed AFLNT Hall of Fame honours in 2014 and was inducted into the NT Team of the Century in 2016, but this is the first time he will have the task of helping to select the Chaney medallist.
Rob Cross, an experienced broadcaster of more than 19 years, has been commentating NTFL games for the past few seasons, including with Aboriginal Broadcasting this season, will also help determine the winner.
The third panellist is experienced coach and administrator, Brenton Toy, who became AFLNT's Manager of Talent earlier this year and knows a skilful, impactful player when he sees one.
Last season it was Nightcliff's Liam Holt-Fitz who was identified as the most impactful player in the Tigers' premiership victory. Ironically, the last Saints player to have won the Chaney Medal was 'Mr Consistent', Cameron Ilett, which came in the 2016/17 Grand Final, the last time he played for St Mary's before he crossed to Nightcliff.
As is stated in the NTFL By-Laws (2019-20 edition) each member of the panel will award votes to the players they deem to be the best and fairest participating in the match.
Each judge will watch the game independently and then vote 5-4-3-2-1, whereby five votes are awarded to the player they determine to be the best performer, four votes to the second-best and so on.
An AFLNT official will then collate and tally all votes, and a full tally of votes will be released early next week.
In the case of a tie, a countback will take place, and the winner will be declared based on whoever received the most ‘five votes’. If the result is still tied, then it will be declared on the most ‘four votes’ and so on.
In all other grand finals this weekend it will be the field umpires who collectively award votes to the player they judge to be the best and fairest from the match.
Each grand final will have a best on ground medal, sponsored by TIO but presented by a family representative for whom the medal is named after. The winner will also get a TIO branded Sherrin to keep.
