MIDFIELDER Cameron Ilett is Territory Thunder's first senior club champion after a thrilling vote count at Darwin's Holiday Inn last night.
The 24-year-old St Marys product won the inaugural best and fairest award by two votes from rover Mark McLean at Thunder's presentation night.
Ilett (pictured) polled 130 votes to beat McLean (128), older brother and Thunder skipper Jared (123) and centre half-forward Peter MacFarlane (116).
There were a maximum 25 votes on offer for each of the 18 QAFL premiership games on which five club officials were asked to judge players on a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis.
The club champion award crowns a successful season for Ilett, who was Thunder's best vote-getter in the QAFL's Grogan Medal count, the eqivalent of the NTFL's Nichols Medal.
He was also named on a wing in the QAFL's team of the year, one of four Thunder players (Jared Ilett, Peter MacFarlane and Darren Ewing) to make the side.
Other players to poll well in the club champion's award were Waratahs' David May (98 votes) and livewire Wanderers forward Shane Thorne (92).
Jared Ilett won the coveted players' player of the year trophy, an award voted by the players themselves on who they thought was the major contributor to the team in their first QAFL season.
Junior Thunder best and fairest medals were presented to Roland AhChee (U18 McLean Medal), Jarred Erlandson (U16 McAdam Medal) and Jed Anderson (U15 Long Medal).
Thunder award winners: Senior club champion: Cameron Ilett. Players' player of the year: Jared Ilett. Southern Cross Television most improved: Shane Thorne. Fosters Brewing coaches award: Karl Lohde. Doug Yuen Elders most courageous: David May. NT Government most professional: Jared Ilett. ERA best young talent: Bradley Palipuaminni. St John Ambulance club person of the year: Tony West. Thunder U18 McLean Medal: Roland AhChee. U16 McAdam Medal: Jarred Erlandson. U15 Long Medal: Jed Anderson. NTIS athlete of the year: Scott Taylor. Johnston Family Rising Star: Jed Anderson.
From GREY MORRIS NT News
Website Editor