YJFL: Hawthorn Citizens junior Noah Anderson makes mark in big-time
In a season of little to cheer about for grassroots clubs, this former Hawthorn Citizens junior-turned-AFL-young gun has given his old outfit plenty to get excited about — including a rising star nomination.
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In a season of no grassroots football, Hawthorn Citizens product Noah Anderson has been flying the flag for his former junior club in the big-time.
The Yarra Junior Football League prodigy and former Oakleigh Charger found his way to the Gold Coast Suns as pick No. 2 in the 2019 national draft.
The son of dual Hawthorn premiership player Dean Anderson, Noah this week became the fourth Gold Coast young gun this season to receive a rising star nomination – including fellow YJFL junior and Oakleigh Charger, Matt Rowell.
Taking the Round 7 honours after his side’s 32-point win over Sydney at the SCG, he gathered 15 disposals, five marks, three tackles and a goal. Playing every game to date for the Suns this season, he posted 11 disposals against the Western Bulldogs on Thursday night – five of those contested – as he continues to make his mark each week.
Former Hawthorn Citizens director of football Rob Gould oversaw Anderson’s development in the early years of his career and knew the club had a future star.
“Noah started as a seven-year-old in tackers, as they called it back then at the club, and played until he was in under-14s at Hawthorn Citz,” Gould said.
“He always stood out because he could just read the play really, really well, and had really clean hands even as a junior … used to get rotated between the midfield and full forward in the under-10s, 11s and 12s, and kick a few goals.
“He had some really good coaches along the way, his dad coached him and (fellow junior coach) Mick Winter – they swapped around and helped each other out as they went along.
“The story that’s told is in under-10s was the first time Noah met Matt Rowell who played at Canterbury, and Dean actually got Noah to tag Matt.”
Hawthorn Citizens has now received a NAB recognition award for Anderson’s nomination, comprising $2500 worth of financial and practical resources.
Anderson is the second rising star nominee the club has had in recent years, after the Western Bulldogs’ Ed Richards got the nod in 2018.
Hawthorn Citizens president David Stanford expressed his gratitude for the prizes the club had received on the back of Anderson’s nomination, and said the club fostered an environment of “enjoyment”.
“It is fantastic – we appreciate the support that NAB give us,” Stanford said.
“The money’s great, but the equipment also is useful as well – you get some balls, training bibs, cones and stuff – all that stuff is important for a junior footy club, because if you don’t get it, you’ve got to buy it and we go through a lot of it.
“At Hawthorn Citz, our approach to footy is inclusiveness and development and enjoyment above all else.”