NICHOLS
MEDAL
League Best and Fairest
Although the best and fairest dates back to early days of Darwin football, it is only since the 1948/49 season that
this prestigious award has been named the Nichols Medal.
The award is named after
Joseph Wesley Nichols, a prominent Darwin resident for over thirty years before retiring to
Alice Springs in 1955.
Born in Brunswick
Victoria in 1890, Mr Nichols came to Darwin in 1922 from Brighton
(Victoria) and his family followed in 1932. He entered the Public Service in 1925 and held 28 positions in the Northern
Territory. These included Sheriff of NT, Justice of the
Peace (JP), Clerk of Darwin Police Courts, Clerk NT Supreme Court, Registrar of Companies, Registrar of Births, Deaths and
Marriages and NT Returning Officer (Elections).
A truly well known and
respected Territorian Mr Nichols served as an Australian Light Horseman in World War 1.
Member of Rovers Football
Club (1925/26), Magpies Football club (1926/27 and 1927/28) and was also acting Secretary for the Club. In 1932/33 Mr Nichols
was elected NTFL Secretary, a position he held until World War II. Mr Nichols
was President of the NTFL from 1946/67 to 1953/54.
Mr Nichols was President
of the Central Australian Football League from 1947 to 1948 and Patron of the League from 1949 to 1958.
Mr. Nichols was honoured
with an M.B.E. for services to the public on 13th June 1964.
Elected life member of
R.S.L. Darwin and Alice Springs and also elected a Life Member of the Northern Territory
Football League on 19 October 1934.
Joseph Nichols died on
31st May 1968 in Alice Springs
at 78 years of age.
THE
MITCH LEE MEDAL
The best and fairest award in the Reserve Grade
competition was named the Mitch Lee Medal in 1964/65 season, although a best and fairest award dates back to the commencement
of the "B" Grade competition in 1953/54.
Mitch Lee is a Life Member of the NTFL. He coached
both St Marys and Waratahs for several seasons and was also Treasurer of the League for several seasons.
THE
ABALA MEDAL
The Abala Medal for the best and fairest in the
Senior Colts (U/18) competition is named in memory of the late Steve Abala (Snr.) who died in February 1956 as a result of
injuries received in a rugby match the previous Saturday.
Steve was a well
known Darwin footballer and captained the Buffaloes League Team in 1950/51, 1951/52 and 1952/53 seasons, those teams winning
the first two Premierships and being runners up to Waratahs in 1952/53. Steve Abala
won the Nichols Medal in 1950/51 season with 21 votes, the highest number of votes for many seasons
THE HICKMAN MEDAL
The Hickman Medal for the best and fairest in Junior
Colts (U/16) Div 1 competition is named after prominent businessman John Hickman.
The medal was previously awarded as runner-up to
the Abala Medal in 1963/64.
With the formation of Junior Colts in the 1976/77
season the medal was awarded to the best and fairest in that competition.
THE LEVERENCE MEDAL
The Leverence Medal for best and fairest in the U/15 Competition is named
after Paddy Leverence who is a former Wanderers player, coach, administrator and media commentator and now NTFL life member
and his family has had ties with all seven NTFL clubs.
The medal was first awarded in 2005/06 with the reintroduction of the U/15
grade. As
from season 2010/11 it will be awarded to the NTFL best and fairest in the U/16 Div 2
THE
GUNDERSEN MEDAL
The U/14 Div 1 best and fairest award was named
after Ted Gundersen who served the NTFL on many committees including a short stint as League Secretary
Ted played football for Waratahs in the late 1940’sand
represented Darwin against Alice Springs in 1948.
He was awarded NTFL Life Membership in 1974
THE LEW FATT MEDAL
The U/13 best and fairest award was named after
the Lew Fatt family who had a number of achievements including five league best and fairest awards, beginning with their father
the late Walter Lew Fatt (Buffaloes now Darwin) who won the equivalent of the Nichols Medal the Presidents Medal in 1933 and
1935 and was awarded life membership in 1970.
His sons maintained the family sportsman and talent
with Kenny winning the first Steve Abala U/18’s medal and Terry (Deceased) (St Marys) Clifford (Gympie) (Deceased) (St
Marys), and Benny (Nightcliff) winning the Nichols medal.
The Lew Fatt family has had ties with all seven
NTFL clubs and the medal was first awarded in 2005/06 after the reintroduction of the U/13 competition. As from season 2010/11
it will be awarded to the NTFL best and fairest in the U/14 Div 2
THE ATKINSON MEDAL
The medal recognises 25 years of service to junior football by former
coach and Football Foundation administrator Peter Atkinson.
As from season 2010/11 it was awarded to the NTFL best and fairest in
the U/14 Div 3 It is now awarded in the U/12's
|
Nichols Medal |
Mitch Lee Medalist (Reserves) |
Abala Medalist (Senior Colts) U/18's |
Hickman Medalist - (U/16's) Div 1 |
Leverance Medalist (U/15's) |
Gundersen Medalist (U/14's) Div 1 |
Lew Fatt Medalist (U/14's) Div 2 |
Atkinson Medalist (U/12's) Div 1 |
|
1954/55 |
Bill Roe BEM |
Year |
Name |
Year |
Name |
Year |
Name |
Year |
Name |
Year |
Name |
Year |
Name |
Year |
Name |
|
1955/56 |
Neil Davies |
1960/61 |
Sebastion |
1960/61 |
Gympie Lew Fatt |
1965/66 |
Leon Gregory |
2005/06 |
Nicholas Daniels - Heenan |
1986/87 |
Patrick Long |
2006/07 |
Shaun Edwards |
2013/14 |
Adam Kerinaiau (Jnr) |
|
1958/59 |
Terry Lew Fatt |
1969/70 |
Edward Berry |
1968/69 |
Sibby Rioli |
1967/68 |
Sibby Rioli |
|
|
1996/97 |
Xavier Clarke (Jnr) |
|
|
|
|
|
1964/65 |
Clifford Lew Fatt |
1974/75* |
CycloneTracy |
1971/72 |
Dennis Lew Fatt |
1969/70 |
Dennis Lew Fatt |
Leverance Medalist (U/16's) Div 2 |
2002/03 |
Cyril Rioli (Jnr Boy) |
Lew Fatt Medalist (U/14's) Div 2 |
Atkinson Medalist 2 (U/12's) Div 2 |
|
1966/67 |
Leon Gregory |
1975/76 |
Geoff Burke |
1974/75* |
Cyclone Tracy |
1972/73 |
Peter Wallace |
2012/13 |
Denny Musgrove |
|
|
Year |
Name |
Year |
Name |
|
1969/70 |
John Pepperill |
1977/78 |
Gympie Lew Fatt |
1976/77 |
Ken Bundle * |
1974/75* |
Cyclone Tracy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1971/72 |
Pat Murphy |
1979/80 |
Gympie Lew Fatt |
1978/79 |
Michael Heenan |
1977/78 |
Poncie Cubillo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1972/73 |
Pat Murphy |
1983/84 |
Gympie Lew Fatt |
1987/88 |
Bill Kruse |
1978/79 |
Geoff Nourse |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1973/74 |
Michael Graham |
1996/97 |
Jamahl Butler |
1989/90 |
William Mclennan |
1980/81 |
John Long |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1974/75* |
Suspended Cyclone Tracy |
2000/01 |
Mark West |
1993/94 |
Darren Puruntatamerri |
1985/86 |
Greg West |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1977/78 |
Bill Bennett |
2003/04 |
Mark West |
1994/95 |
Brenton Toy |
1986/87 |
Willie Rioli |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1984/85 |
Steve Thomson |
2005/06 |
Mark West |
1995/96 |
Anthony Vallejo |
1996/97 |
Ezra Bray |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1985/86 |
Damian Christensen |
2006/07 |
Mark West |
1998/99 |
Xavier Clarke (Jnr) |
1999/00 |
John Anstess |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1988/89 |
Willie Rioli |
2007/08 |
Mark West* |
2006/07 |
Ross Tungatalum |
2003/04 |
Stewart Rioli |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1990/91 |
Michael Athanasiou |
2007/08 |
Stewart Rioli* |
2010/11 |
Dermott Woods |
2005/06 |
Robert Hale |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992/93 |
Noel Long |
|
|
|
|
2006/07 |
Carl Stevens |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1995/96 |
Marty Christensen* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1995/96 |
Cyril Rioli Jnr* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1998/99 |
Tommy Weetra |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004/05 |
Jarred Ilett |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005/06 |
Heath Culpitt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007/08 |
Jarred Ilett |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008/09 |
Iggy Vallejo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2013/14 |
Peter MacFarlane |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2014/15 |
Cameron Ilett |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*Tie |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
