The NT Sports Awards stand as the Territory’s premier celebration of sporting achievement, recognising excellence at every level of competition and leadership. Cricket enters the 2026 awards with representation across multiple categories after a year of sustained growth. Headlining that presence is Darwin’s Jake Weatherald, named a finalist for Sportsperson of the Year.
FINALISTS
Sportsperson of the Year
- Jake Weatherald
The first born-and-raised Territorian to play Test cricket for Australia (Baggy Green Cap #478).
Weatherald made his Test debut in the First Test of the 2025–26 Ashes and featured in all five matches including a top score of 72 in the Second Test, as Australia secured a 4–1 series victory. The left-hand opener’s Test selection coming off the back of dominant Sheffield Shield performances for Tasmania and breaking 150 years of history in the process.
Coach of the Year
- Trent Keep
Appointed to the Australia A coaching staff for the multi-format series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin before continuing with the squad on their tour of India. Keep worked alongside former Australian captain Tim Paine and Cricket Australia high-performance staff across four-day match, one-day and T20 formats, contributing to match preparation, player development and tactical planning at international level. His continued involvement on the India tour reflected national recognition of his coaching capability within Australia’s elite development system.
Volunteer of the Year
- Chrissie Ponter
Named Cricket Australia Volunteer of the Year in 2024-25 for her contribution to community cricket in Alice Springs.
Ponter has played a leading role in building sustainable women’s cricket structures in Central Australia, overseeing the expansion of local competitions and increasing participation opportunities for women and girls. As Vice-President of Federal Cricket Club, she has also supported the delivery of major regional events including the Imparja Cup, while managing the administration, coordination and advocacy required to strengthen community cricket across the region.
- Mel Nixon
Winner of the 2024–25 Cricket Australia Women & Girls Initiative of the Year award.
As President of Tracy Village Cricket Club, and the first female president of a Darwin and Districts Cricket Competition club, Nixon led the establishment of a clear girls’ development pathway linking Woolworths Cricket Blast participation through to two senior women’s teams.
Under her leadership, female participation grew from a single registered player to 23 girls, while the club recorded its highest-ever Cricket Blast enrolments. Her work has focused on reducing barriers to entry and building sustainable participation opportunities for women and girls within the club structure.
Official of the Year
- Robert Stewart
One of two Northern Territory umpires appointed to Cricket Australia’s State and Territory Umpire Panel, marking the first time match officials from the NT have been selected to the national pathway.
Stewart’s elevation followed consistent performances at Territory level and at Cricket Australia National Championships. In 2025, he also became the first NT match official appointed to umpire in the Women’s Big Bash League, standing in fixtures in Adelaide.
His progression represents a significant milestone for officiating in the Northern Territory and highlights the continued advancement of the Territory umpiring pathway.
Regional Performance of the Year
- Lachlan Dunemann (Cricket, AFL, Darts)
Recognised for high-level performance across multiple sporting codes. Within cricket, Dunemann captained Tennant Creek in the Imparja Cup Originals fixture and led the Northern Territory at Cricket Australia’s National Indigenous Cricket Championships. His leadership roles at representative level highlight his influence within regional cricket while balancing elite commitments across AFL and darts.
NT Cricket CEO Gavin Dovey said the nominations reflected the strength of the organisation’s pathways and the importance of people behind the scenes.
“For cricket to have six finalists in the 2026 NT Sports Awards is a wonderful reflection of how well cricket is going in the Northern Territory.
“So many people within our cricket community are achieving great things on a national level, and it’s fantastic to see these six finalists receive this recognition.
“On behalf of Northern Territory Cricket I’d like to congratulate Jake, Trent, Rob, Chrissy, Mel and Lachy and wish them the very best of luck on the evening.”
The 2026 NT Sports Awards will be held on Saturday, 28 March.