Frank Anderson hoping local footy stint pays off at AFL draft
Frank Anderson was cut from the Eastern Ranges squad before his draft year began. But beating a genetic hip injury and a dominant season at South Croydon has ignited an AFL draft fairytale.
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Frank Anderson has not taken the usual road to the AFL draft.
Before the 22-year-old’s breakout season for the Northern Blues in the VFL this year the versatile midfielder burst on to recruiters’ radars following a return to local footy in 2017.
He claimed the Eastern Football League’s Division 1 Rising Star award after guiding South Croydon to a premiership under the tutelage of former North Melbourne hard nut Leigh Adams.
“(Adams) spoke to a few teams at the time and said that I have the talent, I’m just a little bit raw,” Anderson told the Herald Sun.
“Over that summer I started to realise that I could compete at that high level.”
Another strong EFL season earnt him a spot for Vic Metro in a representative game, where he captained the side against Vic Country at the youthful age of 20 – speaking volumes for his leadership skills.
His best-on-ground display sparked further interest from AFL clubs, winning a mountain of footy and laying 12 tackles as inside midfielder.
“That was the best game I’ve played for sure,” he said.
He was rewarded with an invite to the 2018 Victorian state combine and his eventual signing with the Northern Blues at the beginning of this year. He went on to finish third in their best-and-fairest averaging a tick under 20 disposals, five tackles and four clearances per game.
But why was this talented footballer playing local footy in the first place? Because a genetic hip injury denied him the chance to prove himself at under-18 level.
“It pretty much prohibited me from playing consecutive days from training during the week,” Anderson said.
“It got so bad that I couldn’t sit down for half an hour at a time. It got to the point in Year 11 and 12 where I couldn’t play at all.”
Anderson was cut from the Eastern Ranges squad before his draft year even began, with misdiagnosis of his rare injury and eighteenth months on the surgery wait list meaning the issue wasn’t fixed until August 2015.
He joined Casey’s VFL development squad the following year, struggling at the level coming off the injury.
Fast forward to now and Anderson is “as fit and as strong as he’s ever been”, running an F45 studio with his former partner during the season while impressing on field for the Blues.
The fitness fanatic completed the 2XU triathlon at Elwood earlier this month, with his endurance and professionalism being his greatest strengths.
Despite his on-field successes this year, there were more hurdles he had to overcome.
A blistering start to the season saw Anderson become a bolter for the mid-season draft, the highlight a lockdown role on North Melbourne midfielder Aaron Hall, keeping the smooth moving Roo to just 13 disposals.
In that same game he was rubbed out for two weeks for a dangerous sling tackle on the eve of the draft. It meant Anderson was unable to have further opportunities to showcase himself and once again, the hardened midfielder failed to hear his name read out.
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The running machine has met with five clubs ahead of this upcoming draft period, and missing out on selection won’t stop the driven 22-year-old from chasing his dream.
“I would obviously be disappointed if it didn’t work out this upcoming draft, but I certainly wouldn’t be deterred.
“It would just drive me (and) make me more determined for the next draft period.”
Originally published as Frank Anderson hoping local footy stint pays off at AFL draft
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