CAFL preliminary finalists Federal looking upwards under new senior coach Isaac Ankers

New Federal coach Isaac Ankers has promised an upwards movement from last season’s CAFL preliminary finalists.

Abe Ankers (pictured at Waratah) will still help out at Federal training sessions, despite signing with Wangaratta Magpies. Picture: Aaron Black/AFLNT Media

THE name Ankers is synonymous with Federal Football Club and this season will be no different with Isaac Ankers taking over the coaching reins at the 13-time CAFL premier.

Ankers, 28, replaces Dave Thomas at the helm after the Demons reached the preliminary final last season.

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“It’s onwards and upwards for us, definitely,” Ankers told the NT News.

“We’ve done everything right on the track by putting our best foot forward in order to give ourselves the best chance at success.”

That success will have to be gained without his younger brother and dual Minahan medallist Abe, who has signed with Ovens and Murray Football League club Wangaratta Magpies.

Ankers junior’s absence around the packs and in front of goals on matchdays will be missed, but his older brother still rates him as an important leader at the club.

“Fortunately he’s still based here in the Alice and we’ll get to train with him,” Isaac said.

“He leads by example with his training standards, so we’re glad to have that opportunity to have him around the club.

“Even though he won’t be playing for us, he’s still a leader at the footy club.”

There will be the usual exodus of players from the Red Centre, a fact of life sporting clubs of all persuasions are accustomed to.

“Alice Springs is a transit town where people come and people go,” Isaac said. “But that applies to every sporting club in town and we face that dilemma every year.

“We’ve kept a pretty good core of last year’s players and like everyone else, we’ve had some new guys arrive in town and come across to the club.”

The absence of a 2021 season draw with only four weeks until the May 1 season opener is frustrating, but Ankers remains focused on the job at hand.

“My job is to get the boys ready for whoever it is, we don’t care about the opponent, the main thing is the boys are biting at the bit to get started.”