NT Thunder is pleased to have secured the services of Alice Springs-based Abraham Ankers for the 2017 NEAFL season.

Ankers, who played 14 games for NT Thunder in 2014, is a big scalp for the Club with his fine form being on display in both the most recent NTFL and CAFL seasons.

The 21-year-old was awarded the 2016 Minahan Medal for being the best player in the Central Australia Premier League division on the back of 14 impressive games.

Ankers moved to Central Australia from Brisbane as a 15-year-old and immediately fell in with the Federal family.

In 2012/13 he played U18s for the Wanderers in the NTFL before he was part of the 2013/14 trial for a Central Australian Football Club to play in Darwin. At the backend of the same NTFL season, he switched to Waratah FC.

He has played 19 Premier League games (24 in total) for the Tahs, his most impressive season being the current one, which includes being named the Waratah best on ground in the Foundation Cup game against Wanderers on Australia Day.

On the back of this first season with NT Thunder, Ankers won the McLean Medal for being the best U18 player in the AFLNT Thunder State Academy.

Between 2011 and 2014 he played 17 representative games at AFL Nationals for the NT and has played 121-football games to-date.

NT Thunder Head Coach Andrew Hodges said Ankers’ showed faith in the club and he was pleased to have him.

“It’s great to have an Alice Springs local talent on our list, living and working at home but still having the opportunity to play at NEAFL level and be every part as much of this Club as the next player.

“Abe as the CAFL’s Minahan medalist in 2016 will be an integral part of our midfield group this year,” Hodges said.

Ankers said he was pleased to pull on the boots for NT Thunder again.

“I love living in Alice Springs, and I love my footy also, so being able to have both and represent the Territory at the highest level is a bonus.”