Abe Ankers and Rovers pair Tosh Kunoth and Gareth Remfrey high on Minahan Medal lists

Federal on-baller Abe Ankers and Rovers forward Tosh Kunoth popular tips to win the CAFL’s Minahan Medal

Abe Ankers should be a big votegetter in the annual Minahan Medal count to decide the CAFL’s best and fairest player in 2020. Picture: Charlie Lowson

ROVERS pair Tosh Kunoth and Gareth Remfrey are among the favourites to win this year’s Minahan Medal when the votes are handed out to find the 2020 winner.

A shortened season due to the effects of the COVID19 pandemic season and Rovers’ fourth successive senior flag will make for a close count when the CAFL’s best and fairest award is decided at Alice Springs’ Gap View Hotel.

Kunoth will win his second medal if the votes go his way, adding to his tie with big marking Souths forward Daniel Stafford at the 2018 count.

Kunoth won the goalkicking award with 37 goals in the minor rounds and added another 10 in the finals series when he kicked five goals in both the preliminary and grand finals.

Remfrey won last year’s Everingham Medal as the best player on the ground in the grand final win over Souths.

Rovers premiership coach Damien Hall singled out Remfrey, Nigel Lockyer Jr and Kunoth as the best chances from his side.

“Abe Ankers from Federal is always a medal chance because he’s always around the ball and doing a lot with it and look out for young Alonso Nelson from Souths as a smokey,’’ Hall said.

“The difference between Alonso when we played them in Round 1 and later in the season was enormous and I expect him to attract votes.’’

Pioneer’s coach Danny Measures is another Ankers supporter, though he expects his own club’s Jawoyn Cole-Manolis and Shawn Foster to poll well after consistent seasons in green and gold.

Federal’s coach Dave Thomas has no doubt Ankers will poll well, with Remfrey a big chance and Souths forward Daniel Stafford among the top chances.

Souths’ Darren Talbot has backed his trio of Daniel Stafford, Tyrell Martin and Dylan Alice to attract the attention of the umpires.

West Alice Springs coach Shaun Cusack likes his wingman Mishai Wollogorang, who was an outstanding contributor for the Bloods.

Rovers (24) and Pioneer (21) head the list of medal winners, with Souths providing the only three-time winner in Charlie Maher Jr (2005, ‘12 and ‘14).

Minahan Medal Winners - the last 10 years: 2009: Darren Ferguson (Wests). 2010: Paul Campbell (Pioneer). 2011: Darren Young Ltyentye (Apurte). 2012: Charlie Maher Jr (Souths). 2013: Seth Matson (Rovers). 2014: Charlie Maher Jr (Souths). 2015: Nathan Mutch (Federal). 2016: Abraham Ankers (Federal). 2017: Henry Impu (Wests). 2018: Daniel Stafford (Souths), Tosh Kunoth (Rovers) tie. 2019: Darren Abbott (Souths)

[e-mail]