Dom Brew the toast of Tigerland, NTFL after winning Nichols Medal

NIGHTCLIFF’S reputation as the new power club in Territory football got more leverage on Sunday night when inside midfielder Dominic Brew won the Nichols Medal.

Nightcliff midfielder Dom Brew shows off his 2020-21 Nichols Medal after comfortably winning the prestigious award by 10 votes. Picture: Glenn Campbell

NIGHTCLIFF’S reputation as the new power club in Territory football got more leverage last night when inside midfielder Dominic Brew won the Nichols Medal.

The first-year Tiger made it three league best-and-fairest wins in as many seasons for Nightcliff, who will meet St Mary’s in Saturday’s Premier League grand final.

Brew’s ability to be where the ball was saw him poll 27 votes to beat Wanderers’ Dane McFarlane (17) and Waratah’s Abe Ankers (15).

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His flying start to the 2020-21 NTFL season helped him comfortably get over the line, finishing with five best-on-ground performances in the first seven rounds.

Teammate Brodie Filo, a dual medal winner in 2015-16 and again last season when he tied with Wanderers youngster Beau O’Connell, was fourth on the list, polling 14 votes.

Palmerston ruckman-captain Matthew Dennis filled fifth spot with 12 votes after a stellar season in a black-and-white jumper.

Brew led the vote count for most of the night with Darwin Buffalo Jarrod Stokes, who was ineligible due to a suspension during the season.

Waratah midfielder Ankers closed to within six votes after 14 rounds before Brew pulled away again to win by 10 from Eagles midfielder McFarlane.

The 24-year-old played every game this season after arriving from VFL club Werribee, combining with the likes of fellow Nichols medallists Brodie Filo, Phillip Wills and Cameron Ilett and rising youngster Andy Moniz-Wakefield, to give Nightcliff some enormous weapons through the midfield.

Winning the medal came as a big shock for Brew, who already has Nightcliff’s best-and-fairest trophy on his bedside table after a dominant first season in a black-and-yellow jumper.

“It’s a highlight of my career,” he said.

“I’ve been playing footy a long time, but to come up to the Territory and win the medal is unbelievable.

“They’re just a great bunch of guys at Nightcliff.

“Brodie (Filo), Cam Ilett, all those guys make it easy to get a kick.

“I’ll play a season at Werribee in the VFL and be back up next season.”

Brew and his Tigers can create more history in Saturday night’s grand final when they chase a rare premiership three-peat, the first in Nightcliff’s 71-year history if successful.

Saints beat Wanderers by 27 points in the preliminary final.