The 22-year-old was taken by Collingwood with Pick 57 in the 2025 AFL National Draft.
Collingwood National Recruiting Manager Shane O’Bree said Anderson had qualities that strongly appealed to the Magpies.
“When you watch Angus play, you can see how much heart he brings to the contest,” O’Bree said.
“Seeing his development as a footballer has been rewarding.”
Anderson’s path to this point has been defined by persistence.
He began his junior career with the Saints and had his first taste of senior-level football through representative matches with the North Coast Force. He was also part of the Northern Heat Development Program and the QBE Sydney Swans Academy.
Starting juniors in 2011, Anderson made his senior debut in 2019 at just 16.
By 2021 he captained the Swans Academy in NAB League games and also ran out with the Swans’ VFL side.
The following year, the man nicknamed “Banger” was listed as a COVID top-up player for the Sydney Swans while continuing to play for the Academy, the VFL team, and the Allies in the NAB AFL National Championships.
After nominating for the draft without being selected, Anderson relocated to Adelaide and joined Sturt ahead of the 2023 season.
In his debut year with the Double Blues, the strong-bodied midfielder spent the year in the reserves. In 2024 he began again in the reserves, but after breaking into the Sturt senior side in Round 2, he held his place for the remainder of the season.
This year he caught widespread attention, collecting 12 Magarey Medal votes and earning the Jack Oatey Medal as best on ground in the SANFL Grand Final, where Sturt defeated Glenelg by 31 points.
The performance capped a standout season for the Sawtell/Toormina product, who averaged more than 22 disposals across his final 14 games and added 10 goals in that stretch.
Leave a Reply