Sport
12 December, 2025
Maryborough’s Bailey Jacobs and Millie Cracknell awarded CBL North West MVP
Maryborough Blazers stars Bailey Jacobs and Millie Cracknell have been rewarded for outstanding 2025 seasons, named CBL North West Men’s and Women’s league MVPs.
The duo were officially presented with their awards last Saturday night at Cobblebank Stadium following the Lady Blazers’ stunning two-point Grand Final victory.
Jacobs was a tremendous bright spot in an underwhelming Men’s Blazers season that finished winless. The reigning John Stringer MVP also picked up league top scorer, averaging 25.4 points a game, and All-Star five honours.
An exceptionally consistent three-level scorer who can dominate driving in the paint or outside with a deft jumpshot, Jacobs scored more than 20 points in eight of his nine games this season, culminating in a season-high 37 points in the Blazers’ year-ending defeat to the Mildura Heat.
With his sights set on the award during preseason, Jacobs said he was glad to complete that goal with the support of his team.
“It’s pretty special to be named league MVP. I didn’t really expect it, especially being part of a team that went 0-10,” he said.
“Obviously, the team comes first, and we would have liked to have done better, but individual awards are nice as well.”
Usually a fixture of the Ballarat Miners NBL1 program, Jacobs elected to take the year off basketball to play football for Natte Bealiba in the MCDFNL.
With key players like Brady Neill and Darcy Bond mostly unavailable for the first half of the season, Jacobs was handed the keys to the offence, a challenge he relished after an extended period away from the game.
Despite their disappointing record, Jacobs said the team is motivated to once again contend for finals in 2026.
“I think the talent is obviously there, guys like Kynan Carter and Ky Swards really stepped up, and Brady Neill and Darcy Bond made an impact when they returned,” he said.
“Whether it was a close game or not, I was trying to do what’s best for the team every game.
“I felt like I took some steps to lead on the court with my actions to try and help the team alongside Kynan.”
Similar to Jacobs, Maryborough Lady Blazers player-coach Cracknell was also named to the league’s All-Star five after guiding her team to its second CBL premiership.
Unlike Jacobs, Cracknell was also named Defensive Player of the Year as a key component to Mary-borough’s league-leading defence with her persistent perimeter surveillance and ball-swiping abilities.
Cracknell also routinely hurt teams as an offensive juggernaut, averaging 22.8 points across the regular season and finals, including a stunning 41 points versus the Mildura Heat in round three and 34 in the Grand Final against the Bendigo Braves.
Maryborough’s star guard also finished second in three-pointers made with 37 and was the prime facilitator for a team that averaged 85.9 points in the regular season, routinely finding teammates with pinpoint assists.
Cracknell said she was thankful to be recognised for her efforts, as she quickly turns her attention to her upcoming NBL1 season with the Ballarat Miners.
“I feel like I’ve really put the work in and I’m really excited that it’s starting to show,” she said.
“My health was a little bit iffy a couple of months back, but I really feel like I have got on top of it.
“I definitely feel like I’m hitting my straps at the moment, and this is going to be great preparation for the upcoming NBL1 season.”
Aislinn McCarthy joined Cracknell in being named for the league’s All-Star five, building upon her breakout campaign in 2024 to give Maryborough a deadly one-two punch on offence.
McCarthy finished just behind Cracknell in league scoring, taking third spot after averaging 21 points during the regular season and finals.
After starting 2025 with 51 points during the Lady Blazers’ season-opening double header, McCarthy saved her best basketball for the finals.
McCarthy helped carry Maryborough past the Bacchus Marsh Lions with 36 points in the semi-final, then put the Grand Final in the Lady Blazers’ favour with a magical minute to end the third quarter.