What started out as a joke could see Crows recruit Heather Anderson become one of the most recognisable players in the AFL Women’s League.
Anderson, who was picked at No.10 overall, was the first Northern Territory-based player selected in Wednesday’s inaugural Women’s Draft.
The defender pulls on a bright pink helmet when lining up for the Waratah Football Club in the Top End.
Like young Western Bulldogs premiership player Caleb Daniel, whose headwear is now part of footy folklore, Anderson initially started wearing a helmet to appease her Mum, albeit under different circumstances.
“My Mum has a little bit of a degeneration of vision, not by too much, but she always sort of struggled to see me running out there on the ground with the other girls,” Anderson said.
“Because I was always a bit of a tomboy, I always refused to wear pink and she said if I wore pink head-gear she might come and watch me play more.
“I went out and bought one as a joke initially, a few years ago, and was just going to wear it once and I haven’t stopped wearing it since.”
Originally from Canberra, Anderson relocated to Darwin in 2015 for work.
The 22-year-old is a full-time medic in the Australian Defence Force.
“I wanted to be in an environment that was as challenging as possible for both footy and work, to able to push myself in a different environment,” Anderson said.
“It was amazing to see a whole different style of footy played (in the Northern Territory) compared to anywhere else.”
The opportunity to play at AFL level is the realisation of a dream that began at age eight after her family moved from the ACT to Victoria.
“Dad took me to try netball but I didn’t really get the grasp of the no-contact thing and they tried to make me to wear a skirt, so he took me to AFL,” she said.
“I’d never heard of (AFL) at the time but I fell in love with it straight away.”
Like male counterpart Daniel, Anderson has donned a Bulldogs jumper.
The hard-running defender exhibited her skills on the national stage back in the 2015 exhibition match between the Dogs and Melbourne.
“It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life being able to have a run on the MCG with the girls,” Anderson said.
