AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) is thrilled to crown the best and fairest players, as well as the leading goalkickers from the youth divisions of the 2021/22 TIO NTFL season after being recognised in a special online awards ceremony this evening featuring some special Gold Coast SUNS guests.
To watch the awards video featuring, visit the AFLNT YouTube channel here.
The youth player awards highlight the current achievements as well as identify future stars of the TIO NTFL competition, with past winners going on to play senior Premier League football and being selected for NT representative honours.
After each game during the season, the field umpires voted 3-2-1 for who they deemed to be the best players of the game. Throughout the home and away season the votes were tallied and any player who did not serve a match suspension is eligible to win the division’s respective best and fairest medal.
Each team entered their goalkickers after each game, and the leading goalkicker for the division is the player who kicked the most goals after the last round of the home and away season.
Darwin Buffaloes’ Tyrese Raymond was awarded the prestigious Under 18 Boys Abala Medal for his stellar season off the back of being named Best on Ground in the Under 16 Hickman Grand Final last season with the Palmerston Magpies.
Tyrese collected 12 votes in 10 games he played in the Under 18’s competition when he wasn’t featuring in the Men’s Premier League line up. After debuting in Premier League this season in Round 8, Tyrese was nominated for the NT News Rising Star award. The winner of this award will be announced during the Nichols Medal event this Sunday evening.
Joshua Batista of Waratah booted 32 footballs through the middle sticks in the Under 18 Boys competition with his finest performance being in Round 15 against Wanderers when he kicked seven. Across the season he also landed himself in the bests six times.
In the Under 18 Girls, St Mary’s Emma Stark continues to impress after taking home the Best and Fairest medal after receiving the same in the Under 15 competition last season. Emma received 15 votes during her 10 Under 18 matches before she turned 16 years of age, making her eligible to debut for Premier League in Round 16. On Premier League debut against Waratah, Emma kicked three goals, was listed in the bests and secured her NT News Rising Star nomination.
When not playing, Emma is also an impressive field umpire at the highest Northern Territory level – officiating Men’s Premier League matches.
Fellow 2021/22 NT News Rising Star nominee Grace Whittaker of Southern Districts kicked 40 majors across the Under 18 Girls season, securing her position as the leading goalkicker. At only 16 years of age, Grace has taken her footy to the next level this season after featuring in the Premier League line up twice. She has since relocated to Adelaide to play for Norwood in their Development Squad and will be a key player in the Cazalys NT Thunder Academy in 2022.
This season’s Junior Umpire of the Year was awarded to the Bradley Williams for his high rate of training attendance and while on the field he adjudicates games with authority, sensitivity and fairness. He is a valued member of the up-and-coming umpiring team.
In the Under 16 Hickman competition, St Mary’s Edwin Nyembo takes home the Best and Fairest this season for the second year in a row and Lewis Robbins of Nightcliff tallied the most majors with 16 goals in just five games.
In the Under 16 Boys Leverence, Dylan Seden-Kurnoth of Darwin Buffaloes collected not only the Best and Fairest but also the leading goalkicking awards after booting 18 throughout the season. He had his best day out against Banks in Round 2 when he kicked a bag. He also spent some time playing in the Buffaloes’ Under 18 side this season.
Amber Wunungmurra of Tracy Village has displayed some awesome footy this season in both the Under 16 Girls and in the Under 18 Girls competition for Southern Districts. In return has been awarded the Best and Fairest for the Under 16 Girls division after taking home the Under 15 Girls Division 2 award last season. Phoebe Schulz-Kings of Nightcliff was the division’s Leading Goalkicker with 21 goals.
For the Under 14 Gundersen competition, Lucas Rust of Palmerston Magpies bagged himself a double after receiving 22 votes and kicking a massive 40 goals in just eight games. In Round 1 against Waratah, he kicked 10 goals and later in the season during Round 6 against the same team, he kicked 11.
Byron Pearce of Palmerston Magpies has collected the Under 14 LewFatt Best and Fairest medal with 12 votes for his season while Alexander Zec of Banks Bulldogs lead the goalscoring for the second year in a row with 38 goals. During Round 5 against Tracy Village, Alexander booted eight majors.
In the Under 14 Girls division, Peggy Rock of Nightcliff was announced the Best and Fairest of the competition on 23 votes while Bonnie Brown of Southern Districts lead the goalkicking with 24 goals.
AFLNT congratulates all winners on their outstanding performance in the 2021/22 TIO NTFL season.
To watch the awards video featuring special Gold Coast SUNS guests, visit the AFLNT YouTube channel here.
The team at AFLNT will contact all winners with information on how to collect their medallions.
The Nichols and Gwynne Medal for the senior divisions will be available via a live digital format on the AFLNT YouTube channel from 6pm Sunday 12 March. The direct link to watch will be available over the coming days.
2021/22 NTFL Youth Presentation Award Recipients:
Under 18 Boys
Tyrese Raymond of Darwin Buffaloes – Abala Medal Best and Fairest – 12 votes
Joshua Batista of Waratah – Leading Goalkicker – 32 goals
Under 18 Girls
Emma Stark of St Mary’s – Best and Fairest – 15 votes
Grace Whittaker of Southern Districts – Leading Goalkicker – 40 goals
Junior Umpire of the Year
Bradley Williams
Under 16 Hickman
Edwin Nyembo of St Mary’s – Best and Fairest – 19 votes
Lewis Robbins of Nightcliff – Leading Goalkicker – 16 goals
Under 16 Leverence
Dylan Seden-Kurnoth of Darwin Buffaloes – Best and Fairest – 16 votes
Dylan Seden-Kurnoth of Darwin Buffaloes – Leading Goalkicker – 18 goals
Under 16 Girls
Amber Wunungmurra of Tracy Village – Best and Fairest – 17 votes
Phoebe Schulz-Kings of Nightcliff – Leading Goalkicker – 21 goals
Under 14 Gundersen
Lucas Rust of Palmerston Magpies – Best and Fairest – 22 votes
Lucas Rust of Palmerston Magpies – Leading Goalkicker – 40 goals
Under 14 LewFatt
Byron Pearce of Palmerston Magpies – Best and Fairest – 12 votes
Alexander Zec of Banks Bulldogs – Leading Goalkicker – 38 goals
Under 14 Girls
Peggy Rock of Nightcliff – Best and Fairest – 23 votes
Bonnie Brown of Southern Districts – Leading Goalkicker – 24 goals
