Sport
12 September, 2025
Bowen, McKenzie take top honours at MCDFNL’s senior presentation night
Carisbrook stalwart ruckman Jackson Bowen and Avoca star midcourter Faith McKenzie were rewarded for their stellar campaigns in 2025, with Bowen winning his second Berry Powell Medal and McKenzie taking home the Nalder Tracey Medal in her first season in the league.
Monday’s Berry Powell and Nalder Tracey Medal night at the Maryborough Highland Society celebrated the remarkable achievements of footballers and netballers this season, as Bowen, McKenzie and the MCDFNL now set their sights on Saturday’s grand finals.
Berry Powell Medal
Jackson Bowen has cemented himself as one of the greatest ruckmen in MCDFNL history after winning his second Berry Powell Medal following a tight vote count.
The Carisbrook legend was just ahead of Talbot ball-winner Jude McGuire and Natte Bealiba player-coach Trent Mortlock after nine rounds with 14 votes.
Bowen’s was six votes ahead of the chasing pack 12 rounds into the vote before Harcourt champion Cameron Anderson cut that lead to one vote by the final round and was momentarily in the lead after gaining two votes in round 18 against Avoca.
With two votes in the final home and away game versus Lexton, Bowen pipped Anderson at the post by one vote, finishing with a winning 26 votes, while Anderson ended as runner-up with 25 votes.
McGuire rounded out the top three with 18 votes.
When the versatile ruckman won his first Berry Powell Medal back in 2017, he was unable to fully appreciate his achievement, as a shoulder injury suffered in that year's preliminary final against Royal Park meant he was forced to watch from the sidelines as Carisbrook defeated Navarre in the grand final.
There was no such bittersweet feeling this time around for the ultimate professional Bowen, who showed his appreciation for the award.
“I’ve put a lot of work into my football, so individual awards are nice, but obviously, team success is the goal,” he said.
“I’m obviously a bit older now, so I didn’t think I would be standing up there let alone once, but twice at 33.
“I would like to thank Carisbrook for the support they have shown me over my career.”
“I would also like to thank my partner, Bec, who makes sure I don’t miss too many training or recovery sessions.”
With the aforementioned shoulder injury and plenty of others behind him, including one that ruled him out of the Redbacks qualifying final versus Talbot, Bowen said he values the importance of recovery.
“It was definitely disappointing and worrying being injured in the final round, but the boys got it done in the qualifying final and gave me another week and I’m all good now,” he said.
“I’ve had my fair share of injuries, so I’ve definitely put in a lot of effort outside of training with recovery and looking after my body.
“More so recovery during the week and being a little bit smarter training-wise, not trying to train like you're 25 anymore.”
Now fully recovered from his latest injury scare, Carisbrook’s co-captain is determined to win the Redbacks’ 19th premiership against Trentham this Saturday.
After finishing runners-up in 2019, 2022 and 2023, Bowen said his team is ready to reclaim their spot at the top of the MCDFNL mountain.
“We have had a fair share of heartaches in finals recently, but it’s a different group now and we have put ourselves in the best chance again.”
Nalder Tracey Medal
Faith McKenzie put the icing on the cake of a stellar inaugural individual campaign in the MCDFNL by winning the Nalder Tracey Medal.
Similar to the Berry Powell Medal, the Nalder Tracey Medal vote count went down to the wire, with several players polling well.
McKenzie shared the lead with Natte midcourter Ella Tranter after five rounds, with the Maryborough Giants’ Lacey Broad and Carisbrook’s Laura Hurse tied for second.
After 12 rounds, McKenzie held a four-vote advantage over Natte player-coach Emma Ryan who was closely followed by Broad, Tranter and the Giants’ Ruby Saunder.
Ryan pulled neck-and-neck with McKenzie heading into the final round of voting with 28 votes each. However, three votes against Harcourt earned McKenzie the trophy, finishing on 31 votes.
“It means a lot to be recognised in this way. I came here just to have a bit of fun, enjoy my netball again and didn’t expect anything like this,” McKenzie said.
“It’s been an awesome year, I have absolutely loved having Maddy and Kerry as the coaches, they have been the driving force behind our success and obviously the key to the girls’ success over the past few years.”
After joining Avoca this season from Lake Wendouree, McKenzie has been a difference maker on both sides of the ball in the midcourt, orchestrating the Bulldogs in attack and often creating turnovers with her outstanding intercepts.
Playing in the centre of the midcourt has been a new challenge for McKenzie, a challenge she has really enjoyed.
“Generally I’m a defender, sometimes I swing into goals, but I took on a new challenge of being in the midcourt this year, which is very different,” she said.
“I haven’t really played much there, so I’m just taking every bit of advice as it comes.
“It’s been an awesome challenge, I’ve played a lot of basketball with Maddy, so I think that’s just relayed into netball.
“The girls have just been amazing, really helping me in the midcourt and guiding me in that position.”
McKenzie has the chance to add another new medal to her growing resume on Saturday when the Bulldogs look to complete a three-peat of A grade flags when they take on Talbot.
With her teammates’ wealth of experience in grand finals, McKenzie said she is enthusiastic for the season finale.
“I know we have a great united group of girls on and off the court and I really think that will lead us into the game this weekend and I’m really excited for it,” she said.
MCDFNL Awards
The presentation night started with the Rookies of the Year, awarded to Lexton shooter Charlize Kennedy in netball and exciting Talbot forward Zac Cicchini in football.
In the other senior netball best and fairest awards, the Maryborough Giants Bec Dewhirst took out the C grade award with 27 votes, one vote ahead of runner-up Sophie McQuienn with 26 votes.
Newstead’s Layla Zepnick was B grade best and fairest with 36 votes, while Kodie Greenwood of Avoca was runner-up on 27 votes.
The football reserves’ best and fairest count was won by Talbot’s Zac Graham with 23 votes.
With Harcourt’s Ben Leech ineligible for the award, Graham’s teammate Bill Lindsay finished as runner-up with 17 votes.
Leading goalkicker awards were presented to Trentham’s James Regan and Dunolly’s Jordan Waldron in seniors and reserves respectively.
Administrator of the Year went to Dunolly president Billie Goodwin, while Natte Bealiba repeated as winners of the Carlton Trophy, awarded to the most successful club of the season.