The top contenders for the 2024-25 NTFL best and fairest medals
Who will be this year’s best and fairest winners in the NTFL men’s and women’s competitions from season 2024-25? We’ve taken a look at some of the top contenders.
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The NTFL’s Nichols medal night is this weekend where the best and fairest players from season 2024-25 will be crowned, but who’s in the running for the prestigious medal?
In the men’s competition, two-time winner Dylan Landt from St Mary’s and Southern Districts midfielder Jed Anderson have been touted by many as the favourites.
But they will face strong opposition from the likes of Nightcliff skipper Brodie Filo and Scott Carlin from Waratah, who have each enjoyed strong years of their own.
In the women’s competition Gabrielle Deller has emerged as a strong option for Nightcliff, while the usual powerhouses of Jasmyn Hewett and Reni Hicks from PINT are again in contention.
Players are disqualified from winning the medal if they picked up a ban at any stage of the season, which discounts certain possible contenders.
We’ve had a look at some of the front runners from both the men’s and women’s competitions, as well as some that could disrupt the party.
WOMEN’S BEST AND FAIREST CONTENDERS
Gabrielle Deller (Nightcliff Tigers)
The Nightcliff best and fairest winner has had a sensational season and been integral in her side’s success through to the finals.
It’s her second season in Top End footy and this season she’s been even more impressive earning herself 12 best players nods from her side, the joint most of any player.
She’s had a huge influence in the midfield finding plenty of the ball, making the big tackles and giving her side plenty to work with, and should have a fair go at the medal for those reasons.
Jasmyn Hewett (PINT)
The reigning medal winner continues to be a force for the Queenants and could be an option to achieve her third best and fairest medal in this competition.
The AFLW premiership winner can never be counted out in this race and being in a side that only lose once in the home and away season will have had plenty of chances to get votes.
The Queenants assistant coach and upcoming NTFL representative coach has stood out as a leader in this squad across the past few seasons.
Her prowess in the ruck and work across the midfield cannot be understated either, providing a lift for those around her whether through game turning possessions or the odd goal.
Reni Hicks (PINT)
Hicks was named in PINT’s best players in 12 of her 14 matches this season and again played a huge role in her side’s surge to the minor premiership.
This year she took on the captaincy at the Queenants and continues to lead from the front getting plenty of possessions out of the midfield.
A strong mark of the footy and someone who always gives her all for her side she would have to be one of the top contenders for the medal she’s been knocking on the door of for some time.
Billie Byers (St Mary’s)
Byers has emerged as a real club leader at St Mary’s in the past couple of seasons as they’ve worked their way to most in form side in the competition.
A consistent performer who has been named in her side’s best more than anyone else with nine mentions from 13 showings.
She’s no stranger to winning best and fairest medals with her ability to win midfield battles recognised in the Big Rivers competition, and she makes an impact in the NTFL too.
Maria Rioli (Tiwi Bombers)
It’s been a strong season for the Tiwi Bombers women and at the centre of their success in returning to finals has been Maria Rioli.
The famous name is one thing but she’s very clearly possessed with the talent to succeed in footy with her crazy skills to have an influence on the contest, find the ball and kick in a thriller goal.
Her torp in the AFLW curtain raiser against the Darwin Buffaloes early in the season isn’t a moment to forget and came in a match she very likely got a few votes in.
Janet Baird (St Mary’s)
Arguably in the running for the player of the finals series already with her defensive work against Nightcliff and PINT and she was similarly influential in the season.
Baird made history when she became the youngest player to ever win the medal in the 2018-19 season as a 19-year-old and with her AFLW experience in between has only got better.
Now at Saints she continues to grow as a defensive leader in this squad currently with 16 wins in a row and a shot
OUTSIDE CHANCES:
Ella Ward (Palmerston Magpies) - A real force for the Magpies both from a leadership and playing point of view and is sure to have caught the eye. She is a ruck which in the women’s competition is a position that has won the past four medals, twice each for Jasmyn Hewett and Molly Althouse.
Marika Carlton (Palmerston Magpies) - The 2023-24 Rising Star winner has had another eye-catching year as the Magpies returned to finals footy. A skilful operator who runs direct lines and can find the goal has had a very impressive year and continues to show why so many have her touted as one to go to the top of the sport.
NICHOLS MEDAL CONTENDERS
Jed Anderson (Southern Districts)
The standout midfielder in the standout side in the competition cannot be questioned as one of the top chances to take out this season’s medal.
There was plenty of hype as the AFL 99-gamer came back to the NTFL last season, but if anything he’s been even better this time around with his hard at the ball style.
Anderson has been named in his side’s best in 11 out of 17 games (once in finals) due to his link-up play in the middle, thumping kick and ability to make an impactful goal.
He has the advantage of having played in every game of the season, though will have to worry about his teammates, namely a now ineligible Matt Shannon, of taking votes.
Dylan Landt (St Mary’s)
The two-time reigning Nichols medallist has the chance to become the first ever play to win the best and fairest three times in a row.
The ball magnet has again been a force to be reckoned often turning the momentum on his own, particularly in early season wins against Southern Districts and the Tiwi Bombers.
The skipper will miss out on several chances in the middle of the season missing two games due to injury, while Saints lost twice more upon his return.
Though it speaks to his influence whether taking kick outs, getting possessions off his hard running or kicking a tide-turning goal that his side suffered the most when he was unavailable.
Brodie Filo (Nightcliff Tigers)
The two-time Nichols medal winner has been, as is usually the case, one of the best performers in the competition for his impact in the midfield.
Filo took on the captaincy this season, as well as Premier Reserves coaching, and adding that leadership string to his bow has somehow inspired more from the Tiger.
And there’s no doubting when Filo does something big the whole side lifts,
Straight away you can point to Round 18 where he picked up 46 touches, eight inside 50s and a goal, while coaching too, as a three vote match and there’s sure to be more.
Scott Carlin (Waratah)
The Waratah vice-captain has had another extremely consistent season and when it mattered was one of the stars of his side.
He picked up 14 best players nods in the regular season, only missing out in that department in two matches his side dominated and didn’t require a standout performance.
Otherwise he was one of the stars of the early season known for his heavy work rate, ability to find the ball and more importantly make inside-50s when he did.
If something is happening for Tahs he’s usually a part of it and in a much changed midfield from last season has ensured they’ve maintained high standards.
Connor West (St Mary’s)
The former West Coast Eagle is a potential chancer for the medal owing to some standout showings in the Saints midfield this season.
The recruit has taken to life in Top End footy incredibly well coming off a strong season for West Perth in the WAFL.
His work rate and ability to make an impact in the middle has taken plenty of the pressure off his skipper Dylan Landt and earned a spot in the best players in every match he’s played.
Wyatt Ryan (Southern Districts)
The premier ruckman in the competition has really made a name for himself in the NTFL this season, becoming the Crocs number one man in the middle.
Ryan returned for a second season of Top End footy and while he was the apprentice to one of the greats of the NTFL, Matt Dennis, last season he has made it his own this time around.
He well and truly leads the pack for hit outs and is able to make an impression elsewhere too going forward and around the ball and will have picked up something for those reasons.
However, he isn’t quite in a position known for catching the eye of umpires and in a side with Anderson, Shannon, Steven Motlop, the Johnstons and the Sextons among many others he has a hard job to win it.
OUTSIDE CHANCES:
Jarrod Stokes (Darwin Buffaloes) - Despite his side’s results the 2022-23 NT News player of the year has been in sensational form, but will struggle for votes. Stokes finished nearly every game as the leading possession getter for his side and his pace going forward was as clear to see as ever. But Buffs having only two wins for the season won’t help his case.
Michael Thompson (Tiwi Bombers) – A very impressive and skilful midfielder who has emerged as one of the standouts for Tiwi this season. There’s been plenty of attention to the Bombers big names but at the same time there’s a few matches where Thompson could poll highly.
Tanner Lovell (Waratah) – Perhaps the standout player from Waratah in the back half of the season and someone who will poll well. Challenged Carlin in possessions each week and had an impact going forward that was noticed in his absence in the elimination final.
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Originally published as The top contenders for the 2024-25 NTFL best and fairest medals
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