AFL player Angus Anderson debuts for Sydney Swans

A Sawtell Toormina AFL star has been selected to play with the Sydney Swans in a pre-season hit out against the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

Angus Anderson plays during his time at the Sydney Swans academy.

Coffs Coast AFL product Angus Anderson has been named as a member of the Sydney Swans team to play the Greater Western Sydney Giants in an AFL pre-season match at Lavington Sports Complex in Albury Friday night.

The 18-year-old will be rubbing shoulders with big-name players Lance Franklin, Luke Parker, Dane Rampe and Errol Gulden in the first hit out of the season.

Coach John Longmire said Anderson would don jumper number 48 and was the only uncontracted player included in the team.

“Angus will get considerable game time and isn’t just there to make up the numbers,” he said.

The Swans announced on Thursday that injury-plagued ruckman Sam Naismith had been moved to the inactive list for the season.

Anderson is in a prime position to stake a claim for the vacant position at Friday night’s match before the pre-season selection period closes on March 9.

Anderson is a homegrown product of the Sawtell Toormina Saints.

He came through the North Coast Force program, which is a pathway to professional AFL for talented youth players.

Other talent that has been accepted into the career pathway include Holly Wall from Casino, Winnie Johnston, Jai Bowd and Oscar McKenzie.

Casino AFL player Holly Wall has trained in the North Coast Force program.

AFL North Coast community football and competition manager Paul Taylor said players wanting to follow in Anderson’s footsteps had the chance to do so in the pathway program.

“Nominations for the co-branded North Coast Force / Sydney Swans Academy program are open now,” he said.

Players wanting to nominate for selection need to complete the online form on the AFL North Coast website aflnorthcoast.com.au.