AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) and the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) is excited to announce the winners of the Best and Fairest Awards and the leading goal kickers from the youth divisions of the 2024/25 TIO NTFL season.
After an action-packed home and away season, these awards recognise the standout performances of young players who have shown exceptional skill, consistency, and determination.
Throughout the season, the field umpires voted 3-2-1 after each game to determine the best players on the field. The votes were then tallied to decide the winners of each division's respective Best and Fairest medal. To be eligible for the Best and Fairest, players had to avoid serving a match suspension during the season.
In parallel, teams entered their goal kickers after every match, and the leading goal kicker in each division is the player who finished with the highest tally of goals after the final round of the home and away season.
Frances Bowden claimed the Under 14 Female Division A Best and Fairest with 15 votes, showcasing dominant performances in key rounds, including Rounds 4, 9, 10, and 11. Her consistency and ability to poll three-vote games set her apart, as she followed in the footsteps of Nightcliff's Peggy Rock from the previous season. Alana Finn finished as the leading goal scorer in the division with 13 goals, further adding to the Southern Districts Black standout’s impressive season.
In the Under 14 Female Division B, Jordi O'Toole emerged as the Best and Fairest winner with 17 votes, consistently leading the way and picking up votes in nearly every round. She edged out Mia Wilson, who finished with 16 votes, with standout performances in rounds 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, and 18. Tezziema Vincent led the goal-kicking tally in this division, finishing with 9 goals.
Joseph Mancer dominated the Under 14 Male competition, securing the Best and Fairest with a total of 22 votes. His consistent excellence across the season, including key performances in rounds 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 16, 17, and 18, earned him the top spot and continued Banks' tradition of developing young talent. Blake Povey, with 25 goals, finished as the leading goal scorer in the Under 14 Male division, rounding out an impressive individual season.
Peggy Rock's remarkable run in the Under 16 Female division saw her claim a third consecutive Best and Fairest title with 22 votes. Her ability to win the ball and consistently perform at a high level was pivotal in her success, despite a strong challenge from Daisha Daly, who finished with 17 votes. Kayla Ilett was the leading goal scorer in the Under 16 Female division, with an impressive 28 goals across the season.
Aaron McWilliams took home the Under 16 Hickman Medal with 19 votes, adding to St Mary's impressive record in this division. His outstanding performances in rounds 6, 9, and 18 helped him see off Gabriel Flesfadar, who finished with 14 votes. Owen Campbell finished as the leading goal kicker in this division with 22 goals, demonstrating his goal-scoring prowess.
Cate Twaddle secured the Best and Fairest in the Under 18 Female division with 24 votes. Her consistency across the season ensured she finished ahead of strong contenders Daisha Daly and Jorja Davey, both of whom finished with 13 and 11 votes, respectively. Kayla Ilett again proved her scoring ability, finishing as the leading goal scorer with 18 goals in the Under 18 Female division.
In the Under 18 Male division, Shane Warford claimed the Best and Fairest with 17 votes, marking a dominant midfield performance throughout the season. His crucial votes in rounds 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 15, and 16 gave him a decisive edge over Daniel Murphy and Yanni Stefanidakis, who both finished with 10 votes. Connor Gallacher was the leading goal scorer in the division, finishing with a remarkable 34 goals.
In addition to the Best and Fairest winners, the leading goal kickers in each division have also been recognised for their outstanding efforts.
Awards for 2024/25 Season:
Under 14 Female Division A Best and Fairest: Frances Bowden (Nightcliff)
Under 14 Female Division A Leading Goal Kicker: Alana Finn (Southern Districts Black) – 13 goals
Under 14 Female Division B Best and Fairest: Jordi O'Toole (PINT)
Under 14 Female Division B Leading Goal Kicker: Tezziema Vincent (Banks) – 9 goals
Under 14 Male Best and Fairest: Joseph Mancer (Banks)
Under 14 Male Leading Goal Kicker: Blake Povey (Southern Districts Black) – 25 goals
Under 16 Female Best and Fairest: Peggy Rock (Nightcliff)
Under 16 Female Leading Goal Kicker: Kayla Ilett (St Mary’s) – 28 goals
Under 16 Hickman Medal Best and Fairest: Aaron McWilliams (St Mary's)
Under 16 Hickman Leading Goal Kicker: Owen Campbell (Palmerston) – 22 goals
Under 18 Female Best and Fairest: Cate Twaddle (Southern Districts)
Under 18 Female Leading Goal Kicker: Kayla Ilett (St Mary’s) – 18 goals
Under 18 Male Best and Fairest: Shane Warford (Darwin Buffaloes)
Under 18 Male Leading Goal Kicker: Connor Gallacher (Nightcliff) – 34 goals
The Junior Umpire of the Year for the 2024/25 season is Lachlan Ammerlaan, who has shown exceptional dedication to the game and become the second youngest to umpire a Men’s Premier League match.
The INPEX Junior Club of the Year was awarded to Wanderers Football Club recognising the club's outstanding contribution to junior football. The award celebrates the club that has best met the nomination and performance criteria during the home and away season, including strong off-field performance, positive club behaviour, and E-Points awarded across all junior grade teams.