Peggy Rock wins third consecutive best and fairest accolade after perfect season
A Nightcliff junior completed a perfect season to pick up top honours in the under-14s division at the 2023-24 NTFL junior awards night. See all the winners.
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A Nightcliff junior has completed a perfect season picking up three votes in each of her matches to win her third consecutive under-14 best and fairest medal.
Peggy Rock has been the talk of Tiger town for some time constantly impressing in the yellow and black and cementing her place as a real rising star in the Territory competition.
And in doing so managed to once again wrap up the under-14s medal after another thrilling year for her side, and is likely to be a feature in her team’s March 8 grand final against St Mary’s.
Rock kicked 19 goals for the season only behind the St Mary’s trio of Grace Anstess (27), Maria Puruntatmeri (27) and the comp’s leading goal kicker Kayla Ilett (56).
Elsewhere, St Mary’s Antony McWilliams took home the coveted Abala Medal for best and fairest player in the Under 18 men’s division following a nail-biting count.
McWilliams finished on 11 points and polled well in the later rounds and managed to finish one vote clear of his teammate Jed Fairchild.
Patrick Roe of the Darwin Buffaloes booted 30 majors for the season to take out the leading goal kicker, which included seven goal performances in both Round 8 and Round 18.
Nightcliff had another best and fairest winner in the under-18s with Sophia Makrylos, who was named best on in four out of her nine performances.
She finished seven votes ahead of Lexie Cagney playing for the joint Saints/Waratah side, while Tigers’ Lily Child took home the leading goal kicker with 25 goals.
Teammates Jack Hewett and Hau-Tze Rock from Nightcliff were named joint winners in the under-16s Hickman best and fairest, while clubmate Connor Gallacher won the goalkicking with 26 goals.
Meanwhile, Jessica Hardwick of St Mary’s edged out Districts’ Skye Clayton-Ingles to win the under-16s Sharyn Smith best and fairest, with Saints’ Sharna Edwards topping the goals.
In the under-14s boys Dallas Roberston of St Mary’s won the count in Gundersen count, while PINT’s Hugo Timms topped the polling for the Lew Fatt count.
And it was a duo of Southern Districts players who went all out in the goal scoring in each with Lane Howie and Luka La Tosa winning in their respective divisions.
Micah McDonald won the prestigious junior umpire of the year and was recognised for his strong dedication umpiring 48 matches across junior and senior grades for the season.
And it was the Darwin Buffaloes who were awarded the inaugural INPEX Junior Club of the Year award after demonstrating strong off-field performances and positive club behaviour.
ALL THE WINNERS
Under 18 Male
Antony McWilliams – 11 votes (Abala Medal) – St Mary’s Football Club
Patrick Roe – 30 goals – Darwin Buffaloes Football Club
Under 18 Female
Sophia Makrylos – 13 votes – Nightcliff Tigers Football Club
Lily Childs – 25 goals – Nightcliff Tigers Football Club
Junior Umpire of the Year
Micah McDonald
Under 16 Hickman
Jack Hewett – 14 votes – Nightcliff Tigers Football Club
Hau-Tze Rock - 14 votes – Nightcliff Tigers Football Club
Connor Gallacher – 25 goals – Nightcliff Tigers Football Club
Under 16 Girls
Jessica Hardwick – 18 votes – St Mary’s Football Club
Sharna Edwards – 25 goals – St Mary’s Football Club
Under 14 Gundersen
Dallas Robertston – 15 votes – St Mary’s Football Club
Lane Howie – 17 goals – Southern Districts Football Club
Under 14 Lew Fatt
Hugo Timms – 23 votes – PINT Football Club
Luka La Tosa – 20 goals – Southern Districts Football Club
Under 14 Girls
Peggy Rock – 36 votes – Nightcliff Tigers Football Club
Kayla Ilett – 54 Goals – St Mary’s Football Club