Waratah wants midfielder Abe Ankers to relocate to the Top End as part of their season planning

WARATAH coach Ryan Ayres hopes lightning doesn’t strike twice after a long injury toll ruined his NTFL club’s 2019-20 season

NTFL club Waratah want champion midfielder Abe Ankers to relocate to Darwin in their quest for finals football. Picture: Glenn Campbell

WARATAH coach Ryan Ayres hopes lightning doesn’t strike twice after a long injury toll ruined his NTFL club’s 2019-20 season.

Captain elect Brodie Carroll, midfielder Sam Flanegan and utility Harrison Keely all succumbed to elbow and knee injuries that required frustrating season ending surgery.

The Gardens Oval club have not won a senior flag since 1999-2000 and have been rare visitors to finals football since.

“Those couple of knee, elbow, ankle and shoulder reconstructions certainly hurt us and quite a few of those injuries were our experienced locals,’’ Ayres said.

“So while we will have a very similar squad to last season, the good news is some experienced players will be returning who had the majority of the season off.’’

Carroll only played five games after being named captain, proceeding to seriously hurt an elbow in a trial game before the season started.

Hard nut midfielder Sam Flanegan played a quarter of a game in Round 1 before wrecking a knee that required reconstruction surgery.

“Sam’s in the middle of his rehab now so we hope to get him back at some stage,’’ Ayres said.

“We’re strongly targeting Abe Ankers to relocate after his one-year contract with Aspley in the NEAFL season that has already wound up with the COVID-19 situation.

“We all know what Abe can do on the field, but he’s got the type of credentials that would improve us massively off the field as well.’’

Casey Scorpions (VFL) player Dylan Collis is another Tahs player looking at relocating after he played the back end of last season in a red and white jumper.

“We’re targeting players I’ve worked with previously by trying to get them to live here,’’ Ayres said.

“That way the fly-in rules, borders closed or open and the points system for fly-in players don’t really count.’’