Maroochydore Swans player Reid Anderson savours grand final victory and MVP honours

After suffering “every injury under the sun”, including a fractured back, Reid Anderson has more reasons than most to celebrate the Swans’ premiership glory.

Maroochydore quick Reid Anderson was named player of the Division 1 grand final. Picture: John McCutcheon

After suffering “every injury under the sun”, including a fractured back, Reid Anderson has more reasons than most to celebrate the Swans’ premiership glory.

Maroochydore were crowned Division 1 champions for the second straight year on Saturday after rain prevented any play on the third day of the grand final against Caboolture.

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While it was a special feat for the club, Anderson garnered plenty of satisfaction from the result.

Not only was it the 22-year-old’s first premiership experience but he was also crowned player of the grand final after an effective 3-37 spell with the ball and a staunch 15 not out effort with the bat.

“He bowled outstandingly well and got three really big wickets for us,” captain Blaine Schloss said.

“He was really economical and I thought he made a really valuable contribution with the bat as well towards the end which got us up to a defendable total.”

Adding to the occasion, Anderson achieved the feat on the back of an arduous, injury-riddled few years.

The bad luck forced him to miss out on the Swans’ title honours last year.

Maroochydore’s Reid Anderson. Picture: John McCutcheon

“I started the (2019-20) season and played the first half in first grade but then everything fell apart and I ended up opening the batting in third grade,” he said.

“I literally played up to Christmas then did my shoulder (torn cartilage) and coming back from that I did (fractured) my back.

“I’ve done it (fractured back) three times now, just stress fractures, which is frustrating.

“And, I’ve also (suffered) every other injury under the sun that you could possibly think of.”

His fractured back from last season had flow on effects, with Anderson missing the Twenty20 rounds of the 2020-21 season.

“I played the first one-dayer of the whole comp in second grade and then after that I was back in first grade,” he said.

While most would be anxious upon return to the crease, Anderson took it in his stride.

He claimed 22 wickets across 207 overs for the Swans this season, with his best spell coming in the grand final.

“I said to myself ‘no bowling this season’ and look where that ended up,” he laughed.

After missing out last year he was pleased he could make an impact in the decider over the weekend.

“It was good really that my body was able to bowl for the whole 28 overs I did, which is something I thought I’d never be able to do,” he said.

“I would've thought after 12 or 15 overs my body would have said that’s enough so to even be in the 28th over and the only thing stopping me was exhaustion was pretty good.”

He’s already fired up for next season and was eager to do what he could to reduce the chances of injury cruelling his time on pitch again.

“I don’t really want to put cricket down in the off-season,” he said.

“You play all season and your body is used to it but then you get to the end and just stop.

“Then, when you try and come back you get all these problems so hopefully over winter I can keep training with whoever and keep the body moving.”

Originally published as Maroochydore Swans player Reid Anderson savours grand final victory and MVP honours