Ally Anderson

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Ally Anderson

| image = AFLW S7 GF Ally Anderson.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Anderson playing for Brisbane in 2022

| fullname = Alexandra Janaya Anderson{{Cite news|title=AFLW Pocket Profile: Ally Anderson|url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1263821/aflw-pocket-profile-ally-anderson|website=AFL Women's|location=Melbourne|last=Welsh|first=Sophie|date=4 January 2025|access-date=14 April 2025}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|03|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Brisbane, Queensland

| originalteam = Zillmere (QWAFL)

| draftpick = No. 47, 2016 national draft

| debutdate = Round 1, 2017

| debutteam = {{AFLW|Bri}}

| debutopponent = {{AFLW|Mel}}

| debutstadium = Casey Fields

| height = 162cm

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = {{AFLW|Bri}}

| guernsey = 18

| years1 = 2017–

| club1 = {{AFLW|Bri}}

| games_goals1 = 93 (11)

| statsend = the 2024 season

| careerhighlights =

2× AFL Women's premiership player: 2021, 2023
AFL Women's best and fairest: S7
AFL Women's equal games record holder
Brisbane games record holder
3× AFL Women's All-Australian team: 2019, 2023, 2024
4× Brisbane best and fairest: 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024

}}

Alexandra Janaya Anderson (born 25 March 1994) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions in the AFL Women's (AFLW). Anderson won the 2022 AFL Women's season 7 best and fairest award, and is a dual AFL Women's premiership player, three-time AFL Women's All-Australian and four-time Brisbane best and fairest winner. Anderson is the AFL Women's equal games record holder and Brisbane games record holder with 93 games.

Early life

Anderson was born in 1994 in Brisbane, Queensland raised by Leigh and Reggie (a paramedic and Aboriginal Gangulu{{cite news|last=Stanton|first=Tanisha|title=Brisbane Lions midfielder Ally Anderson set to make history among first AFLW players to reach 50th milestone|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-03/brisbane-lions-ally-anderson-first-aflw-player-50th-milestone/100867354|work=ABC News|date=3 March 2022|access-date=6 March 2022}} Redcliffe Dolphins rugby league player) from Theodore, Queensland inland from Rockhampton.QAS Insight Summer 2019-2020 pg 30Family Pride Gives Lions Star Lift by Terry Malinder for The Chronicle 10 March 2018[https://www.lions.com.au/news/279359/ally-anderson-what-it-means-to-be-aboriginal Ally Anderson: What it means to be Aboriginal] By Ally Anderson on exclusiveinsight.com on 26 November 2018 Anderson took up rugby league with her sisters at the age of 5 and also took up tennis and swimming.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_aZKVDV_TQ&t=0 Top 3 training tips with AFLW legend Ally Anderson!] fromYouTube 3 July 2022] Anderson was educated at Kedron State High School.[https://www.aflq.com.au/aflq-congratulates-ally-anderson-and-four-all-aus-lions/ AFLQ congratulates Ally Anderson and four All-Aus Lions] 24 November 2022

Anderson had never seen an AFL game prior to the age of 16 and knew very little of the sport. Anderson began learning of the game after her older sister Mikayla started playing it and was encouraged by her school teacher who was from Melbourne to pursue a career in the sport.[https://kedronshs.eq.edu.au/our-school/history Kedron State High School - Our School History] Anderson played club football for the Zillmere from junior to senior level{{cite web|title=Brisbane Lions AFL Women's Players|url=http://www.lions.com.au/afl-womens/afl-womens-players|publisher=Brisbane Lions|access-date=5 June 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606011624/http://www.lions.com.au/afl-womens/afl-womens-players|archive-date=6 June 2017|url-status=dead}} and represented Queensland at Under 18 level in 2013.[https://www.aflq.com.au/zillmeres-anderson-gearing-up-for-nationals/ Zillmere’s Anderson gearing up for nationals] from AFL Queensland 14 June 2013

AFL Women's career

File:Ally Anderson 2022 (1) (cropped).jpg

Anderson was recruited by {{AFLW|Bri}} with the number 47 pick in the 2016 AFL Women's draft and debuted in the Lions' inaugural game against {{AFLW|Mel}} at Casey Fields on 5 February 2017.{{cite news|last=Matthews|first=Bruce|title=Lions take the points in AFLW wild weather clash|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-02-05/match-report-melbourne-v-brisbane-lions|work=afl.com.au|date=5 February 2017|access-date=3 October 2019}} Anderson went on to play all eight games in her debut season, including the six-point 2017 AFL Women's Grand Final loss to {{AFLW|Ade}}.{{cite news|last=Matthews|first=Bruce|title=Match report: Crows soar to flag in thriller|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-03-25/match-report-aflw-grand-final|work=afl.com.au|date=25 March 2017|access-date=3 October 2019}} Brisbane signed Anderson for the 2018 season during the trade period in May 2017.{{cite web|title=AFLW: All the clubs' full lists after trade period|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-05-26/aflw-all-the-clubs-full-lists-after-trade-period|work=afl.com.au|date=26 May 2017|access-date=5 June 2017}}

Anderson played all eight games for Brisbane again in 2018, including the 2018 AFL Women's Grand Final loss to the {{AFLW|WB}}, Brisbane's second consecutive grand final loss.{{cite news|last=Matthews|first=Bruce|title=AFLW match report: Dogs take out flag|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-03-24/aflw-grand-final-match-report-western-bulldogs-v-brisbane|work=afl.com.au|date=24 March 2018|access-date=3 October 2019}} Brisbane signed Anderson for the 2019 season during the trade and signing period in May 2018.{{cite news|last=Black|first=Sarah|title=AFLW: Delisted Docker goes coast to coast|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-06-07/aflw-five-way-deal-ends-trade-period|work=afl.com.au|date=7 June 2018|access-date=6 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140757/http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-06-07/aflw-five-way-deal-ends-trade-period|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 June 2018}}

Anderson had a career-best season in 2019, capped off by winning the Brisbane best and fairest award{{cite news|last=Whiting|first=Michael|title=All Australian Lions midfielder caps off season with B&F|url=https://womens.afl/news/17795/all-australian-lions-midfielder-caps-off-season-with-b-f|work=womens.afl|date=12 April 2019|access-date=3 October 2019}} and being selected in the 2019 AFL Women's All-Australian team.{{cite news|last=Navaratnam|first=Dinny|title=Five Crows, four Roos headline All Australian team|url=https://womens.afl/news/17673/five-crows-four-roos-headline-all-australian-team|work=womens.afl|date=2 April 2019|access-date=3 October 2019}} Following the AFL Women's season, Anderson played for {{VFLW Ess}} in the VFL Women's (VFLW).{{cite news|title=New stars join VFLW Dons|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2019-05-16/new-stars-join-vflw-dons|work=essendonfc.com.au|date=16 May 2019|access-date=3 October 2019}}{{cite news|last=Hustwaite|first=Megan|title=Anderson: Why I came to Essendon|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2019-06-13/anderson-why-i-came-here|work=essendonfc.com.au|date=13 June 2019|access-date=3 October 2019}}

Leading into the 2020 season, womens.afl journalist Sarah Black named Anderson at no. 26 on her list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.{{cite news|last=Black|first=Sarah|title=Sarah Black's top 30: Lions' pocket rocket lands at No.26|url=https://womens.afl/news/40286/sarah-black-s-top-30|work=womens.afl|date=12 January 2020|access-date=12 January 2020}} She was also selected in the AFL Players Association's 2017–2019 retrospective AFL Women's 22under22 team.{{cite news|last=Black|first=Sarah|title=Crows dominate inaugural 22under22 squad|url=https://womens.afl/news/50053/crows-dominate-inaugural-22under22-squad|work=womens.afl|date=26 March 2020|access-date=21 April 2020}} Anderson finished the season as one of fourteen players to have played the most AFL Women's matches to that point with 30.{{cite news|last=Black|first=Sarah|title=The 30-gamers: Meet members of the AFLW's exclusive club|url=https://womens.afl/news/50104/|work=womens.afl|date=25 April 2020|access-date=28 April 2020}}

Anderson was named at no. 21 in Sarah Black's 2022 list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.{{cite web|last=Black|first=Sarah|title=Sarah Black's Top 30 AFLW players|url=https://www.womens.afl/news/78307/sarah-black-s-top-30-aflw-players-5-1|work=womens.afl|date=6 January 2022|access-date=9 January 2022}} She was named among Brisbane's best players in its loss to Adelaide in round 1{{cite news|author=Australian Associated Press|title=Crows cruise past premiers as key stars suffer big injuries|url=https://www.womens.afl/news/78688/crows-cruise-past-premiers-as-key-stars-suffer-big-injuries|work=womens.afl|date=9 January 2022|access-date=11 January 2022}} and its wins over {{AFLW|Gee}} in round 4{{cite news|author1=Australian Associated Press|last2=Welsh|first2=Sophie|title=Scheer agony and joy: Three-goal haul not enough to topple Lions|url=https://www.womens.afl/news/82506/scheer-agony-and-joy-three-goal-haul-not-enough-to-topple-lions|work=womens.afl|date=29 January 2022|access-date=30 January 2022}} and {{AFLW|WC}} in round 8,{{cite news|author1=Australian Associated Press|last2=Rogers|first2=Michael|title=Record-breaking Lions hammer hapless Eagles|url=https://www.womens.afl/news/87796/record-breaking-lions-hammer-hapless-eagles|work=womens.afl|date=27 February 2022|access-date=27 February 2022}} polling seven coaches' votes in the round 8 match.{{cite news|title=AFLCA votes, R8: Perfect 10 sends Lion to the top, first voteless week for Freo star|url=https://www.womens.afl/news/87230/aflca-votes-r8-perfect-10-sends-lion-to-the-top-first-voteless-week-for-freo-star|work=womens.afl|date=28 February 2022|access-date=28 February 2022}} Anderson and teammate Emily Bates became the first AFLW players to reach the 50-game milestone in Brisbane's round 9 win over {{AFLW|NM}}, with both among Brisbane's best players.{{cite news|author=Australian Associated Press|title=Roo'd awakening: Clinical win for Lions over fellow finals aspirant|url=https://www.womens.afl/news/89341/roo-d-awakening-clinical-win-for-lions-over-fellow-finals-aspirant|work=womens.afl|date=6 March 2022|access-date=6 March 2022}}

Leading into the 2023 season, Sarah Black named Anderson at no. 5 on her annual list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.{{cite news|last=Black|first=Sarah|title=Sarah Black's top 30: Ten best players revealed|url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1010277/sarah-blacks-top-10-aflw-players-revealed-is-she-right|work=afl.com.au|date=21 August 2023|access-date=30 August 2023}}

In 2024, Anderson was named Brisbane's best player in its loss to North Melbourne in week 1{{cite news|last=Whiting|first=Michael|title=Lions suffer biggest ever defeat as Roos fire warning shot|url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1210739/north-melbourne-kangaroos-thrash-brisbane-lions-to-put-aflw-competition-on-notice|website=afl.com.au|date=1 September 2024|access-date=1 September 2024}} and was best afield in its win over Melbourne in week 2 with an AFLW record 43 disposals.{{cite news|last=Bastiani|first=Gemma|title=Lions bounce back with dominant win over Dees|url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1213362/lions-bounce-back-with-dominant-win-over-dees|website=afl.com.au|date=7 September 2024|access-date=7 September 2024}} She was among Brisbane's best players in wins over Collingwood in week 3,{{cite news|last=Whiting|first=Michael|title=Rampant Lions have Pies for dinner|url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1218294/aflw-match-report-brisbane-lions-v-collingwood-magpies|website=afl.com.au|date=13 September 2024|access-date=15 September 2024}} and the Western Bulldogs{{cite news|last=Whiting|first=Michael|title=Bulldogs fight but Lions roar after first-quarter blitz|url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1223143/match-report-brisbane-lions-v-western-bulldogs|website=afl.com.au|date=18 September 2024|access-date=22 September 2024}} and West Coast in both week 4 matches.{{cite news|last=Schmook|first=Nathan|title=Lions looming large after trimming Daisy's Eagles|url=https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1227029/lions-looming-large-after-trimming-daisys-eagles|website=afl.com.au|date=22 September 2024|access-date=22 September 2024}}

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2024 season.{{cite web|title=Ally Anderson – player stats by season|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/playerseason/Ally+Anderson/19984|publisher=Australian Football|access-date=1 September 2024}}

| 2017 || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 18

| 8 || 0 || 1 || 29 || 29 || 58 || 6 || 26 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 3.6 || 3.6 || 7.3 || 0.8 || 3.3 || 0

| 2018 || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 18

| 8 || 1 || 0 || 90 || 53 || 143 || 22 || 40 || 0.1 || 0.0 || 11.3 || 6.6 || 17.9 || 2.8 || 5.0 || 1

| 2019 || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 18

| 7 || 1 || 0 || 91 || 56 || 147 || 27 || 35 || 0.1 || 0.0 || 13.0 || 8.0 || 21.0 || 3.9 || 5.0 || 3

| 2020 || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 18

| 7 || 0 || 2 || 73 || 55 || 128 || 30 || 17 || 0.0 || 0.3 || 10.4 || 7.9 || 18.3 || 4.3 || 2.4 || 2

| bgcolor=F0E68C | 2021^# || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 18

| 11 || 2 || 1 || 121 || 83 || 204 || 32 || 39 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 11.0 || 7.5 || 18.5 || 2.9 || 3.5 || 9

| 2022 (S6) || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 18

| 12 || 2 || 4 || 132 || 68 || 200 || 26 || 50 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 11.0 || 5.7 || 16.7 || 2.2 || 4.2 || 2

| 2022 (S7) || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 18

| 13 || 2 || 4 || 178 || 100 || 278 || 42 || 69 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 13.7 || 7.7 || 21.4 || 3.2 || 5.3 || bgcolor=98FB98 | 21^±

| bgcolor=F0E68C | 2023^# || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 18

| 13 || 1 || 5 || 173 || 143 || 316 || 38 || 84 || 0.1 || 0.4 || 13.3 || 11.0 || 24.3 || 2.9 || 6.5 || 12

| 2024 || {{AFLW|Bri}} || 18

| 14 || 2 || 7 || 183 || 182 || 365 || 34 || 93 || 0.1 || 0.5 || 13.1 || 13.0 || 26.1 || 2.4 || 6.6 || 8

|- class=sortbottom

! colspan=3 | Career

! 93 !! 11 !! 24 !! 1070 !! 769 !! 1839 !! 257 !! 453 !! 0.1 !! 0.3 !! 11.5 !! 8.3 !! 19.8 !! 2.8 !! 4.9 !! 58

Honours and achievements

Team

2× AFL Women's premiership player ({{AFLW|Bri}}): 2021, 2023
2× AFL Women's minor premiership ({{AFLW|Bri}}): 2017, S7

Individual

AFL Women's best and fairest: S7
AFL Women's equal games record holder
Brisbane games record holder
3× AFL Women's All-Australian team: 2019, 2023, 2024
4× Brisbane best and fairest: 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024

References

External links

{{Brisplayer|1636/Ally-Anderson}}
{{AustralianFootball|ref=Ally+Anderson/19984}}
{{Instagram|id=allyanderson18_}}

{{AFL Women's club best and fairest winners in premiership years}}

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportswomen from Queensland

Category:Brisbane Lions (AFLW) players

Category:Indigenous Australian players of Australian rules football

Category:21st-century Indigenous Australian people

Category:Australian rules footballers from Brisbane