The 2023 Sun Cable Big Rivers Football League (BRFL) Doug Kelly Medal Count night took place on Sunday evening at Knotts Crossing Resort with Eastside players taking out the night's top honours.
William Robinson secured the respected Doug Kelly Medal in the senior men's competition, and it was Eastside’s Billie Byers taking home the top senior women's award for the second time.
Hailing from Ovens & Murray Football League on the border of New South Wales and Victoria, Will Robinson donned the boots for Corowa Rutherglen Football Club and at the age of 18 took home the took home League’s Rising Star Medal. Robinson played six games for the Darwin Buffaloes in the 2022/23 TIO NTFL competition before commencing his Sun Cable BRFL campaign this season.
Robinson was awarded the Doug Kelly medal with 20 votes; three clear of Arnhem Crows’ Nehemiah Farrell and 5 votes clear of teammate and 2023 Sun Cable BRFL Leading Goal Kicker Liam Holt-Fitz.
Known for her relentless hard at the footy style of play, Billie Byers was named in her side's best nine times this season. She comes off a stellar season with St Mary’s Football Club in the TIO NTFL Competition and selection in the 2023 Cazalys NT Representative Side. With this win, Byers secures her second best and fairest medal in the senior women’s competition.
The 2023 Sun Cable Big Rivers Football League Grand Final will be held this Saturday 16 September 2023 at Nitmiluk Oval (Katherine Showgrounds) head to PlayHQ for the latest updates and team selections.
AFL Northern Territory would like to congratulate all other award recipients listed below.
Senior Men’s Doug Kelly Medal Leader Board:
- 16 votes – William Robinson (Eastside)
- 13 votes – Nehemiah Farrell (Arnhem)
- 11 votes – Liam Holt-Fitz (Eastside)
- 10 votes – Peter Lane (Arnhem) / Adam Sambono (Daly River)
Senior Women’s Best and Fairest Leader Board:
- 19 votes – Billie Byers (Eastside)
- 16 votes – Lynelle Ahfat (Ngukurr / Arnhem)
- 10 votes – Jonita Kingsley (Arnhem) / Jenna ‘Aggie’ Singh (Arnhem)
- 8 votes – Mickayla Ward (Arnhem) / Jayde De La Coeur (Eastside)
Leading Goal Kickers
- Senior Men’s - 35 goals – Liam Holt-Fitz (Eastside)
- Senior Women’s - 26 goals – Denisha Koimala (Arnhem Crows)
Golden Whistle Award - Jessica Head
This award is decided by the Senior Coach of each Club who votes for the umpire they believe to have had the best on-field performance during the season.
Volunteer of the Year – Donna Capes – Garrak Bombers
About Doug Kelly
Often referred to as “Mr Top End Football”, Douglas George Kelly, first started playing with Wanderers Football Club Colts as a 14-year-old in 1964 and played over 250 League games.
Doug was a member of the Wanderers in the NTFL grand final teams in 1980/81 and 1984/85 and claimed NT football’s ultimate prize twice as a member of the Wanderers premiership teams in 1981/82 and 1982/83.
Doug also spent several seasons in the TIO CAFL playing for South Alice Springs and Federal.
He proudly represented the NT in a game against Mt Isa in 1971-72 and Queensland in 1972-73.
Residing in Katherine for much of his career it is estimated that Doug travelled the astonishing equivalent of one and half times around the world to play in his estimated 400 senior games in all grades and competitions!
It is fitting that each year the medal presented to the best and fairest in the men's competition of the Sun Cable BRFL is named in his honour.
Doug was a key member of Katherine Football Club’s NTFL Reserve Grade Premiership team in 1985/86 and was joint best and fairest in the same year. Doug also played 13 games with the Katherine Football Club in the 1987/88 NTFL season.
Doug also played 70 games with Eastside Football Club in the then-named Katherine Districts Football League (KDFL) and was a member of the club's 1990/91 and 1993/94 premiership teams.
Doug was Eastside’s Leading Goal Kicker three times and won the KDFL’s leading goalkicker award with 63 goals in 1992/93.
Doug’s immense contribution to Territory football was recognised in 1986 when he was made an NTFL Player Life Member in 1989 and in 2012 was inducted into the AFLNT Hall of Fame.