Landt and Hewett Headline Historic 2025/26 Nichols Medal Night

The 2025/26 Nichols Medal Event, presented by Cazalys Palmerston Club and hosted at Mindil Beach Casino Resort, celebrated another outstanding Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) season, highlighted by historic achievements from St Mary’s captain Dylan Landt and PINT star Jasmyn Hewett. 

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Dylan Landt cemented his place among the competition’s greatest players, claiming his third Nichols Medal and joining Nightcliff great Brodie Filo as the only players in league history to win the prestigious award three times. Already a back-to-back winner in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, Landt delivered one of the most dominant campaigns in recent memory. 

The Saints skipper averaged just over 30 disposals, six clearances and seven inside 50s per match while also booting 30 goals to finish among the competition’s top three goal kickers. Landt polled votes in 12 matches across the season, including best-on-ground performances in Rounds 3, 5 and 13. A strong six-week stretch where he collected 10 votes from six matches, capped off by a vote in Round 16 against the Darwin Buffaloes, ultimately secured him the 2025/26 Nichols Medal with 22 votes. 

Meanwhile, Jasmyn Hewett further strengthened her legacy as one of the most dominant players in TIO NTFL Women’s Premier League history, becoming the first player to win four Women’s Best and Fairest awards. Adding to her previous wins in 2020/21, 2023/24 and 2024/25, Hewett secured the 2025/26 honour with 25 votes - in one of the closest counts she has been involved in. 

Hewett’s impact across the ground continues to set the standard in the competition. Dominant in the ruck and equally effective at ground level, she led the Queenants throughout the season with her athleticism and ability to drive the ball forward. Hewett polled votes in 11 matches, including six best-on-ground performances in Rounds 1, 2, 9, 10, 13 and 14. A seven-game run from Round 7 to Round 14 that produced 17 votes proved decisive as she secured the award by three votes. 

Nightcliff’s Jaise Coleman also added another chapter to an extraordinary career, claiming the Mitch Lee Medal in the Men’s Premier League Reserves. The versatile ruckman made history by becoming the first player to win six league Best and Fairest awards, surpassing St Mary’s great Mark West. Coleman polled votes in seven matches, including a standout performance in Round 11, before helping guide Nightcliff to victory over PINT in Round 18 to secure his third Mitch Lee Medal. 

Tracy Village’s Hayden Schugmann enjoyed a breakout season to claim the Lancaster Medal in Men’s Division One with 14 votes. In his first season with the club, Schugmann proved a damaging midfielder capable of hitting the scoreboard, polling votes in five matches and producing best-on-ground performances in Rounds 3, 12 and 13. Three votes in Tracy Village’s Round 16 win over Nightcliff sealed the medal. 

Banks Bulldogs continued their strong presence in Women’s Division One with Anna Staib claiming the Best and Fairest with a record-breaking 19 votes. Staib’s consistent performances saw her poll in eight of a possible eleven matches, including maximum votes in Rounds 3, 6 and 9. Her Round 16 performance secured the record for the highest vote tally in a Women’s Division One season and made her the third consecutive Banks player to win the award. 

In Men’s Division Two, Southern Districts veteran Henry Armour capped off a remarkable career milestone, winning his first league Best and Fairest at the age of 39 after more than 160 NTFL games. Armour polled 11 votes across four matches, including three-vote performances in Rounds 4, 12 and 16, becoming the Crocs’ first winner of the Men’s Division Two Best and Fairest. 

Another dominant season came in Women’s Division Two, where Southern Districts’ Danielle Suddaby produced one of the most remarkable campaigns in the division’s history. In her first season with the Crocs, Suddaby polled 24 votes and broke the record for the highest vote tally in Women’s Division Two. She earned best-on-ground honours in all eight matches she polled in, including the first five games of her season. 

Southern Districts forward Beau Schwarze claimed the Men’s Premier League Leading Goal Kicker award with 40 goals. It marked the first time Schwarze has surpassed 25 goals in a season and the first leading goal kicker from Southern Districts since teammate Will Farrer in 2019/20. Schwarze kicked goals in 14 matches and finished the season strongly, booting 21 goals across the final four games including two bags of seven. 

Nightcliff’s Cassie McWilliam continued her dominance in the Women’s Premier League, claiming the Leading Goal Kicker award for the second consecutive season with 30 goals. Despite spending more time in the ruck this year, McWilliam still found the scoreboard regularly, kicking goals in 13 matches and finishing with a season-high eight goals in Round 17. 

Banks Bulldogs forward Matthew Bricknell secured back-to-back Men’s Premier Reserves Leading Goal Kicker titles, finishing with 49 goals after kicking 62 the previous season. Bricknell booted goals in all 13 matches he played and kicked three or more goals on ten occasions. 

Jabiru’s Aidan McAdam also went back-to-back in Men’s Division One, finishing with 28 goals for the season. In a dramatic finish to the race, McAdam kicked an incredible 11 goals in the final round to move to the top of the leaderboard. 

Banks Bulldogs shared the Women’s Division One Leading Goal Kicker award for the first time in club history, with Isobel Cowell and Georgia Dunstone finishing tied on 12 goals each. Both players kicked goals in seven matches during the season, with Cowell enjoying her first season at the club while Dunstone celebrated her 50-game milestone earlier in the year. 

Men’s Division Two saw a tie at the top of the goal kicking table, with Jabiru’s Broderick Church and Southern Districts’ Dane McGennisken both finishing with 37 goals. Church secured back-to-back titles after winning the award last season, while McGennisken claimed his first leading goal kicker honour after more than 250 career goals. 

Palmerston’s Shanoah Leedie produced a record-breaking season in Women’s Division Two, finishing with 33 goals to set a new benchmark for the competition. Leedie kicked multiple goals every time she hit the scoreboard, including a five-goal performance against PINT and a run of 20 goals between Rounds 9 and 16. 

Josh Cooper was awarded the NTFL Umpire of the Year. During the 2025/26 TIO NTFL Season, Josh showed dedication to both his onfield and off-field commitments, making him a deserving recipient of the Umpire of the Year Award. On the field, Josh consistently delivers outstanding performances, demonstrating exceptional skill, composure, and professionalism that set him apart as one of the competition’s leading officials.

The NT News Rising Star awards recognised two exciting young talents in the competition. Tiwi Bombers’ Frances Tipungwuti was named the Men’s Premier League Rising Star after an impressive debut season, while St Mary’s Lakhyah Hill earned the Women’s Premier League Rising Star award following a series of standout performances. 

Palmerston’s Rodney Bonson was recognised with the Towards Zero Volunteer of the Year award for his outstanding contribution to the club and the wider football community. 

Banks Bulldogs were named the INPEX Senior Club of the Year, recognising their continued growth and success across both their men’s and women’s programs. 

A full list of winners from the 2025/26 Nichols Medal event: 

Nichols Medal 
Dylan Landt, 22 votes – St Mary’s Football Club 

Women’s Premier League Best and Fairest 
Jasmyn Hewett, 25 votes – PINT Football Club 

Men’s Premier League Leading Goal Kicker – Presented by Darwin Family Law 
Beau Schwarze, 40 goals – Southern Districts Football Club 

Women’s Premier League Leading Goal Kicker – Presented by Darwin Family Law 
Cassie McWilliam, 30 goals – Nightcliff Tigers Football Club 

NT News Men’s Rising Star 
Frances Tipungwuti – Tiwi Bombers Football Club 

NT News Women’s Rising Star 
Lakhyah Hill – St Mary’s Football Club 

Men’s Premier League Reserves (Mitch Lee Medal) 
Jaise Coleman, 13 votes – Nightcliff Tigers Football Club 

Men’s Premier League Reserves Leading Goal Kicker 
Matthew Bricknell, 49 goals – Banks Bulldogs Football Club 

Men’s Division 1 (Lancaster Medal) 
Hayden Schugmann, 14 votes – Tracy Village Football Club 

Men’s Division 1 Leading Goal Kicker 
Aidan McAdam, 28 goals – Jabiru Bombers Football Club 

Men’s Division 2 Best and Fairest 
Henry Armour, 11 votes – Southern Districts Football Club 

Men’s Division 2 Leading Goal Kicker 
Broderick Church (Jabiru Bombers) & Dane McGennisken (Southern Districts) – 37 goals 

Women’s Division 1 Best and Fairest 
Anna Staib, 19 votes – Banks Bulldogs Football Club 

Women’s Division 1 Leading Goal Kicker 
Isobel Cowell & Georgia Dunstone – Banks Bulldogs Football Club (12 goals) 

Women’s Division 2 Best and Fairest 
Danielle Suddaby, 24 votes – Southern Districts Football Club 

Women’s Division 2 Leading Goal Kicker 
Shanoah Leedie, 33 goals – Palmerston Football Club 

Senior Umpire of the year

Josh Cooper