Richmond Next Generation Academy talent Mackenzie Cowley has capped a brilliant year of football. 

At just 14-years old, Cowley was last month crowned the Murray Football League's under-17 competition Best & Fairest. 

Playing for Tongala, Cowley registered 26 votes across the season - five votes clear of the runner-up. 

The agile midfielder experienced a stellar season in 2018. 

He made his senior debut for the Blues in the Murray league, captained the AFL Victoria Kickstart team and was selected for the Boomerangs National Indigenous team.

Cowley was first engaged with the Club's NGA program in April 2017.

He has also been involved in the Club's Korin Gamadji Institute programming, which support our next generation of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander leaders.

Richmond’s General Manager of Football, Neil Balme, congratulated Cowley.

“I’d like to pass my congratulations on to Macca," Balme said.

"He is clearly a very talented and determined young man.

"To win this award is some achievement, but to do it as a 14-year-old is very impressive.

"The Club looks forward to working closely with him as he continues to develop his football craft."