Q&A: Ally Anderson on the ripple effect of the Matildas for AFLW

AFLW star Ally Anderson on the ‘ripple effect’ of the Matildas for her sport, taking her game to the next level and her Indigenous roots.

Ally Anderson. Picture: Dylan Burns

You were named the AFLW’s Best and Fairest at the end of last season. Outside of sports, off the pitch, what does that title mean to you? Being selfless. I am always trying to grow as a person. Even the idea of being more interested than being interesting. I try not to be too self-focused, and be a better active listener. I’m 29 and I’m still looking for ways to be better as a person, as a human.

As a Queenslander, how did you become involved in Aussie Rules football and was it love at first kick? Honestly, I didn’t like AFL as a kid. I grew up playing rugby league. I’d never even watched the sport before and when I got to high school, my sister was playing it and I always wanted to be like her, so I pretty much fell in love with AFL only then. That year, I made the Queensland under-18s team and never looked back.

Now you’re in your seventh year of professional play with the Brisbane Lions, how has the game changed? Seventh year, eighth season. Every year always feels different; right now I’m taking my game to the next level and I’ve gotten a lot fitter, so I’m excited to see how that translates on the field. I’m also one of the lucky ones – this is the first year I’m playing full-time football and not having to work, so I can focus all my energy towards that. While I’m young I want to put my energy into being the best athlete I can be.

Do you think there will be a ripple effect for the AFLW off the back of the Matildas’ success at the FIFA World Cup? Seeing videos of men watching women’s sports at the pub and getting around it makes me so happy. Hopefully audiences have watched that and they think, “Girls can play sport and it is watchable” and that will grow our sport even more. We’re only in our eighth season, so it’s a very young sport, it’s about getting viewership and getting people along to the games.

The Matildas’ success has brought a lot of issues to the surface, whether it’s pay equity, equality, respect – how do you feel discussing issues that impact you on and off the pitch? Athletes have this platform where we can encourage conversation. I’m not a massive political advocate, but if we can have a positive change, then I feel like we should have the right to be able to do it and not just “stick to our sport”.

What is an issue that inspires you to speak out and not just, as you say, stick to sport? The Voice to Parliament. I’m on the AFL Players Association Indigenous Advisory Board, and it’s been really interesting trying to promote education in the wider community. I know my opinions on the Voice, I’m obviously for it, but I’m learning more that it’s not just about getting anyone to vote a certain way, but to make sure they understand.

You’ve said that growing up in Brisbane made you feel disconnected to your Indigenous culture. How has that connection to culture evolved as you’ve grown? I think it evolved as I got into football. It was through the sport that I found out more and was more interested. With our Indigenous rounds and my role as an ambassador for Indigenous health outreach program Red Dust, it has allowed me to go into Aboriginal communities and have conversations I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

The 2023 NAB AFLW season kicks off this weekend.