After a thrilling vote count for both the TIO NTFL Men’s and Women’s Premier League Best and Fairest awards, Palmerston Magpies’ Eric Guthrie and Nightcliff’s Daniel Bowles were announced as joint Nichols recipients and Darwin Buffette Molly Althouse collected the Gwynne, capping off their stellar seasons.
After cementing himself as a standout player for the Palmerston Magpies Football Club in his initial season during 2020/21, this season Guthrie has been instrumental in the club’s midfield and after being awarded the Magpies’ Best and Fairest last weekend, has now been deemed one of the league’s.
The one-percenter player from Harrow-Balmoral has featured high in every statistical benchmark for his club across disposals, marks, inside 50’s, clearances and tackles. In his 14 games across the season, he averaged 5.5 clearances, 21.8 disposals and 10.9 contested possessions while also averaging 3.9 tackles.
Hailing from Shepparton in Victoria, consistent Nightcliff half-back defender Bowles is ranked in the top two intercept markers of the league with an average of 2.3 a match and 32 for the home and away season. Per match he also averaged 6.5 rebound 50s and pushed up the ground to average 3.5 inside 50s. He ranked third in disposals with 333 in total and had an incredible kicking and handball efficiency rate with 72% and 76% respectively.
Both players finished the vote count on 14 votes, only one clear of Darwin Buffaloes skipper, Jarrod Stokes and three ahead of Wanderers midfielder Marcus Totham.
Darwin Buffette Molly Althouse at just 19 years of age tops off her incredible season with not only the 2022 Cazalys NTFL Representative Game Best on Ground award for her efforts against Woodville West Torrens but now can add the 2021/22 TIO NTFL Gwynne Medal to her accolades collection.
The Women’s Premier League’s dominating ruck finished fourth on last season’s Gwynne Medal leader board, but this year finished first on 20 points, two clear of Waratah’s Lisa Roberts. Nightcliff Captain, Eliza Morrison and Southern Districts’ skipper Bella Clarke came in third with 15 votes.
Althouse is set to play in her second consecutive Women’s Premier League Grand Final next weekend.
St Mary’s Jackson Calder claimed the Dennis Dunn Leading Goal Kicking award presented by Darwin Family Law with 58 goals to his name in the Premier League home and away season.
Waratah’s 2021/22 Women’s Premier League Best and Fairest player Lisa Miceli took home the Women’s Premier League Leading Goal Kicking award for her 37 goals for the second year in a row!
Wanderers’ reliable and speedy defender Lloyd Johnston was awarded the Men’s NT News Rising Star award with Waratah’s sensation Annabel Kievit winning the NT News Rising Star for the Women.
Capable of big marks, hard running and finding teammates with accurate foot and handpassing, Johnston became the Round 4 nominee for the NT News’ Rising Star. Named in Wanderers’ best players in the three Men’s Premier League games this season after he played in his debut season in league football, Johnston’s consistency in the key defensive role has not gone unnoticed.
After an injury interrupted 2021, Kievit bounced back strongly. After recently playing for the Gold Coast SUNS in the Under 17 NAB AFLW Championships, she returned to the NT to play in the NAB AFLW Championships after a strong showing for the Cazalys NT Thunder Academy. She is a consistent performer who featured in 10 Women’s Premier League games this home and away season.
Waratah Men’s Premier League Brodie Carroll was awarded the ABC Player of the Year. In addition to being an impressive midfielder, Carroll lead the league with his tackling rate and also ranked highly with the amount of contested possessions he had. In a tight contest, Carroll polled 18 votes to edge out Nightcliff’s Brodie Filo, who won the award last year and St Mary’s Dylan Landt.
Joel Morrison was awarded the ABC Umpire of the Year of the second consecutive year. Morrison has a depth of umpiring experience, including field umpiring multiple Men’s Premier League Grand Finals and Cazalys NTFL Representative Games. Morrison becomes the first person to win back-to-back ABC (NT) awards. He polled 17 votes to win from Mark Noonan and Ashlon Gardner.
For the first time, Coaches of the Year presented by NO MORE were announced. Ryan Ayres of Waratah and Melinda Taylor of Darwin Buffettes became the inaugural winners.
In Men’s Division 1, Edward Morris of Banks Bulldogs took home the Mitch Lee Medal with 19 votes and Mathias Liddy of St Mary’s kicked 62 goals this season, crowning him as the Men’s Division 1 Leading Goal Kicker.
Men’s Division 2 saw Duane Von Senden of Banks Bulldogs take home the Lancaster Medal with 23 votes and Aaron Knapman, also of Banks Bulldogs kick 52 goals this season and was awarded the Leading Goal Kicker.
In Women’s Division 2, PINT’s Rhiarna Myatt received the Best and Fairest award with 11 votes and Danielle Wiseman lead the goal kicking with 10 majors this season.
The Towards Zero Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Jabiru Bombers’ Tamara Spence who works tirelessly and endlessly for her club while supporting, advocating, and representing the Bombers both in the Jabiru and Darwin communities.
The INPEX Big Club of the Year was awarded to Southern Districts Football Club and the Jabiru Bombers collected both the INPEX Small Club of the Year and INPEX Most Improved Club.
A full list of awards and winners at the 2020/21 NIchols Medal, presented by Cazalys Palmerston Club:
Nichols Medal
Daniel Bowles of Nightcliff – 14 votes
Eric Guthrie of Palmerston Magpies – 14 votes
Gwynne Medal
Molly Althouse of Darwin Buffaloes – 20 votes
Dennis Dunn Leading Goal Kicker presented by Darwin Family Law
Jackson Calder of St Mary’s – 58 goals
Women’s Leading Goal Kicker
Lisa Miceli of Waratah – 37 goals
The NT News Men’s Rising Star
Lloyd Johnston of Wanderers
The NT News Women’s Rising Star
Annabel Kievit of Waratah
The NT News Player of the Year
Ben Archard of Darwin Buffaloes
Nick Yarran of St Mary’s
Men’s Coach of the Year presented by NO MORE
Ryan Ayres of Waratah
Women’s Coach of the Year presented by NO MORE
Melinda Taylor of Darwin Buffettes
ABC Player of the Year
Brodie Carroll of Waratah
ABC Umpire of the Year
Joel Morrison
Men’s Division 1 Mitch Lee Medal
Edward Morris of Banks Bulldogs – 19 votes
Men’s Division 1 Leading Goal Kicker
Mathias Liddy of St Mary’s – 55 goals
Men’s Division 2 Lancaster Medal
Duane Von Senden of Banks Bulldogs – 23 votes
Men’s Division 2 Leading Goal Kicker
Aaron Knapman of Banks Bulldogs – 52 goals
Women’s Division 2 Best and Fairest
Rhiarna Myatt of PINT – 11 votes
Women’s Division 2 Leading Goal Kicker
Danielle Wiseman of Nightcliff – 10 goals
Towards Zero Volunteer of the Year
Tamara Spence of Jabiru Bombers
INPEX Big Club of the Year
Southern Districts Football Club
INPEX Small Club of the Year
Jabiru Bombers Football Club
INPEX Most Improved Club
Jabiru Bombers Football Club
