Federal has clean swept the senior best and fairest awards at the 2025 TIO Central Australian Football League (CAFL) Minahan Medal with Abraham Ankers making history claiming his fourth Minahan Medal with Alana Chalmers recording her first Margaret Liddle Medal.
Held at the Alice Springs Convention Centre, players, umpires, volunteers, and supporters gathered to celebrate the achievements of the 2025 season and honour the outstanding contributors across all grades.
For Ankers, the evening was another chapter in a decorated career. The Federal midfielder picked up his fourth TIO CAFL Minahan Medal, adding to wins in 2016, 2020, and 2023, becoming the most awarded player in the medal’s history. Abe polled 15 votes, including four best-on-ground efforts, finishing ahead of teammate Braydon Weily (10 votes).
Ankers has been in blistering form across the midfield and forward line, booting 18 goals in nine games, picking up 15 votes including four best on grounds. Ankers was tied with Nelson Anders for majority of the night, but two three-vote performances in Round 13 and 15 cleared the lead.
Federal’s success continued in the women’s competition, with Alana Chalmers claiming her first Margaret Liddle Medal after a standout season. Chalmers, who has been instrumental for Federal across the ground, polled 17 votes, including three best-on-ground performances.
Her consistent desperation to win the ball and impact contests saw her edge ahead of Rovers pair Doreena Hansen and Brylee Kerrin, who both finished on 14 votes. A crucial three-vote performance in Round 12 helped Chalmers overtake Kerrin late in the count, securing Federal their second women’s best and fairest winner in three years.
Marcus McDonald was crowned the CAFL Community Best and Fairest after an outstanding season, polling 13 votes to secure the honour. His dominance was highlighted by a brilliant stretch of form in rounds 3, 4, and 5 for Papunya, where he collected three consecutive best-on-ground performances that set him apart from the competition. Western Aranda teammates Paddy Patlas and Baydon Ngalkin shared second place on seven votes apiece, showcasing the strength and consistency of the side throughout the year.
Wesley Steele from Pioneer claimed the Senior Men’s Leading Goalkicker Award with 38 goals, while Regan Maher-Moldrich (Alkamilya) finished as the women’s leading goalkicker with 33 majors, including two big games that netted 18 of her total.
In the reserves, Federal’s Jonathon Fernando recorded his fourth Patron’s Medal in a row with 19 votes, while Arnold Woodbury (South) finished as the top goalkicker with an impressive 46 goals.
Mackiah Jones (Pioneer) was named the Kev Prior Rising Star for his Under 18 performances leading to his TIO Senior Men’s debut in Round 5, alongside his appearances for Mt Allan in the Community Competition.
Telayla Turner (South) was named the Women’s Rising Star. Turner capped off a strong season with CAFL representative honours, a top-five finish in the Under 17s best and fairest plus 6 Margaret Liddle Medalist votes (TIO Senior Women).
In the Under 18 Males, Fletcha Murphy (Pioneer) polled 17 votes to win the Muldoon Medal in the Under 18s and also finished equal-top of the goalkicking charts alongside Brodie Haines (South) with 28 goals.
In the Under 17 Girls, Latoya Young (South) was a standout, claiming a back to back Best and Fairest Medal (17 votes) and Leading Goalkicker (43 goals).
West Football Club was named Club of the Year, while Grant Souter (Rovers) received the Harrison Trophy/ Volunteer of the Year award for his dedicated service to the game.
On the officiating side, Asher Lennie earned the KFC Umpire of the Year, while emerging umpire Ruot Puok took home the KFC Junior Umpire of the Year.
AFL Northern Territory would like to congratulate all the award winners.
2025 Minahan Medal Night Award Winners and Tallies:
TIO CAFL MINAHAN MEDAL:
Abraham Ankers (Federal) - 15
Braydon Weily (Federal) - 10
Nelson Anders (Pioneer) - 9
Shaydan Close (Rovers) - 9
Kaleel Ross (Rovers) - 8
SENIOR MEN’S LEADING GOAL KICKER:
Wesley Steele (Pioneer) - 38 goals
MARGARET LIDDLE MEDAL:
Alana Chalmers (Federal) - 17
Doreena Hansen (Rovers) - 14
Brylee Kerrin (Rovers) - 14
Ebony Abbott-McCormack (Rovers) - 12
Jessica Harnischfeger (West) - 10
SENIOR WOMEN’S LEADING GOAL KICKER:
Regan Maher-Moldrich (Alkamilya) - 33 goals
WILLIAMS-PAREROULTJA MEDAL:
Marcus McDonald (Papunya) - 13
Paddy Patlas (Western Aranda) - 7
Baydon Ngalkin (Western Aranda) - 7
Jessiah Martin (Ti Tree) - 7
Clive Coulthard (Utju) - 5
TIO CAFL SENIOR MEN’S RESERVES BEST AND FAIREST:
Jonathon Fernando (Federal) - 19
Robert Shaw (West) - 13
Shane Mulladad (South) - 6
Jake Smith (West) - 6
Scott Young (Federal) - 5
SENIOR MEN’S RESERVES LEADING GOAL KICKER:
Arnold Woodbury (South) - 46 goals
KFC UMPIRE OF THE YEAR:
Asher Lennie
KFC JUNIOR UMPIRE OF THE YEAR:
Ruot Puok
CLUB OF THE YEAR:
West Football Club
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR:
Grant Souter (Rovers)
TIO CAFL KEV PRIOR RISING STAR AWARD:
Men’s: Mackiah Jones (Pioneer)
Women’s: Telayla Turner (South)
MULDOON MEDAL (UNDER 18’S MEN’S BEST AND FAIREST):
Fletcha Murphy (Pioneer) - 17
Mackiah Jones (Pioneer) - 11
Leathan Rubuntja (South) - 8
Wilfred Ngalaia (Federal) - 7
Mason Tilmouth (South) - 6
UNDER 18’S MEN’S LEADING GOAL KICKER:
Brodie Haines (South) & Fletcha Murphy (Pioneer) - 28 goals
UNDER 17’S WOMEN’S BEST AND FAIREST:
Latoya Young (South) - 17
Taylah Palmer (South) - 15
Olivia Schulz (West) - 14
Telayla Turner (South) - 10
Nikita Kopp (Pioneer) - 8
UNDER 17’S WOMEN’S LEADING GOAL KICKER:
Latoya Young (South) - 43 goals
UNDER 15’S MEN’S BEST AND FAIREST:
Thomas Van Der Geest-Hester (Rovers) - 22
Nicky Alice (South) - 17
Hezekiaha Raymond (Federal) - 10
Eltran Campbell (Rovers) - 10
Keylin Peters (South) - 7
UNDER 15’S MEN’S LEADING GOAL KICKER:
Nicky Alice (South) - 17 goals