Rugby, Cricket, Netball, and now AFL!

Netball just didn’t suit Heather Anderson. When playing in her local league, the referee attempted to make Anderson conform to the competition’s rules by asking her to wear a netball skirt. Needless to say that was her last season playing netball.

Anderson didn’t feel the same passion for netball as she did for other sports, and her first true sporting love was for rugby league. However, when her family moved to Victoria there was no room for rugby in a football dominated town, and Anderson quickly transferred her natural talent towards AFL - and that is where it has stayed.

Anderson has already represented the ACT in touch football and cricket, however next week she will be representing the ACT/NSW’s team in the first ever National Youth Girls Championships held in Melbourne. “All three sports are great in their different ways, but I definitely think that AFL is the best.”

Coming from a rugby league background, the sport has given her some great skills to apply to her AFL game. “Rugby taught me how to tackle and toughened me up to take the really hard bumps. It has also taught me to run down the wing with the ball.” Anderson is known for her hard running and attacking into the forward line, however she believes that next week she will be playing in the centre.

Having lived in Victoria for three years, you might think that Anderson may have a soft spot for the two Victorian teams. Although as the Victorian’s are favourites to win the Championships, Anderson will definitely not be showing any remorse when she applies her rugby-style tackles. “Victoria will be the hardest team to beat in the competition, so I most definitely don’t have a soft spot for them.” All I can say to the Victorian team is - look out!

Follow Heather's progress in the first ever National titles for U18 Youth Girls in Melbourne from September 6 with finals contested at Craigieburn Oval on the 11th. Check out the action at AFL Kicks for Chicks on Facebook or Twitter.