In a landmark moment for the SunCable Big Rivers Football League (BRFL), the 2024 Doug Kelly Medal presentation at Knotts Crossing Resort on Saturday evening saw a tie. Katherine Camels’ William Robinson and his teammate Ricky Walsh both secured the prestigious medal with 12 votes each, while Arnhem Crows’ Jenna Singh Lippo claimed the Women’s Best and Fairest honour with an equally impressive 12 votes.
William Robinson’s football career has been a testament to his skill and dedication. Beginning with the Corowa Rutherglen Junior Football Club, located on the border of New South Wales and Victoria, Robinson’s talent quickly became evident. His journey took him through the Ovens & Murray Football League before making a significant impact in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL). His stints with the Darwin Buffaloes and Eastside in the BRFL highlighted his exceptional ability. Robinson’s NT career has been noteworthy, with highlights including last season’s Doug Kelly Medal, securing the 2023/24 TIO NTFL premiership with St Mary’s, and now his second Doug Kelly Medal.
Ricky Walsh’s ascent in football began in the Under 14s with the Echuca United Football Netball Club in the Murray Football League, central Victoria. His move to the NT in 2022 saw him join the Katherine Camels, where he won both a premiership and his first Doug Kelly Medal by a single vote. In the 2024 season, Walsh stood out by polling votes in five of the 12 matches he played, earning best-on-ground honours in round two against Eastside and round eight against Northern Warlpiri. Walsh now looks forward to lining up alongside Robinson in pursuit of a second SunCable BRFL premiership.
Jenna Singh Lippo’s football journey began with the Tiwi Bombers in the NTFL in 2016, where she quickly made a name for herself by kicking 38 goals in 13 games. Her rise was swift, debuting in the NTFL Premier League with Waratah in 2019. Singh Lippo’s BRFL career commenced in 2021 with the Arnhem Crows, and she clinched a premiership in 2023 being named best on ground. Known for her consistency, Singh Lippo finished in the top four for the Women’s Best and Fairest in both 2022 and 2023. In 2024, she polled votes in five out of seven matches, earning best-on-ground honours in round one against the Katherine Camels, round two against Katherine Souths, and round four against Eastside.
The 2024 SunCable BRFL Grand Finals will be held this Saturday 10 August 2024, at Nitmiluk Oval (Katherine Showgrounds). Please click here for updates regarding the match and team selection.
AFL Northern Territory would like to congratulate all award winners listed below.
Senior Men’s Doug Kelly Medal Leaderboard:
- 12 votes – Will Robinson (Katherine Camels) & Ricky Walsh (Katherine Camels)
- 9 votes – Tyrese Raymond (Garrak Bombers), Peter Lane (Arnhem Crows) & Traven Shields (Arnhem Crows)
- 8 votes – Daniel Vercoe (Katherine Camels)
- 6 votes – Michael Joshua (Ngukurr)
- 5 votes – Edward Roberts (Ngukurr), Abraham Henry (Arnhem Crows) & Lester Gumbula (Ngukurr)
Senior Women’s Best & Fairest:
- 12 votes – Jenna Singh-Lippo (Arnhem Crows)
- 10 votes – Harriet Rowe (Katherine South)
- 9 votes – Grace Senior (Katherine Camels)
- 8 votes – Jayde De La Coeur (Eastside)
- 6 votes – Tynequa Bush (Arnhem Crows) & Billie Byers (Eastside)
Leading Goal-Kickers:
- Senior Men’s – 30 goals – Josh Carlin (Katherine Camels)
- Senior Women’s – 16 goals – Jenna Singh-Lippo (Arnhem Crows)
Umpire Awards:
- Umpire of the Year Award – Peter Buckland
League Awards:
- Club of the Year – Katherine Camels Football Club
- Volunteer of the Year – Malcolm Hales (Arnhem Crows)
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 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 a number seasons in the 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 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 an AFLNT Hall of Fame Inductee.
