Ally Anderson

Anderson was born in 1994 in Brisbane, Queensland raised by Leigh and Reggie (a paramedic and Aboriginal Gangulu^[2] Redcliffe Dolphins rugby league player) from Theodore, Queensland inland from Rockhampton.^[3][4][5] Anderson took up rugby league with her sisters at the age of 5 and also took up tennis and swimming.^[6] Anderson was educated at Kedron State High School.^[7]

Anderson had never seen an AFL game prior to the age of 16 and knew very little of the sport.^[6] Anderson began learning of the game after her older sister Mikayla started playing it^[6] and was encouraged by her school teacher who was from Melbourne to pursue a career in the sport.^[4][8] Anderson played club football for the Zillmere from junior to senior level^[9] and represented Queensland at Under 18 level in 2013.^[4][10]

Anderson was recruited by Brisbane with the number 47 pick in the 2016 AFL Women's draft and debuted in the Lions' inaugural game against Melbourne at Casey Fields on 5 February 2017.^[11] Anderson went on to play all eight games in her debut season, including the six-point 2017 AFL Women's Grand Final loss to Adelaide.^[12] Brisbane signed Anderson for the 2018 season during the trade period in May 2017.^[13]

Anderson played all eight games for Brisbane again in 2018, including the 2018 AFL Women's Grand Final loss to the Western Bulldogs, Brisbane's second consecutive grand final loss.^[14] Brisbane signed Anderson for the 2019 season during the trade and signing period in May 2018.^[15]

Anderson had a career-best season in 2019, capped off by winning the Brisbane best and fairest award^[16] and being selected in the 2019 AFL Women's All-Australian team.^[17] Following the AFL Women's season, Anderson played for Essendon in the VFL Women's (VFLW).^[18][19]

Leading into the 2020 season, womens.afl journalist Sarah Black named Anderson at no. 26 on her list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.^[20] She was also selected in the AFL Players Association's 2017–2019 retrospective AFL Women's 22under22 team.^[21] Anderson finished the season as one of fourteen players to have played the most AFL Women's matches to that point with 30.^[22]

Anderson was named at no. 21 in Sarah Black's 2022 list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.^[23] She was named among Brisbane's best players in its loss to Adelaide in round 1^[24] and its wins over Geelong in round 4^[25] and West Coast in round 8,^[26] polling seven coaches' votes in the round 8 match.^[27] Anderson and teammate Emily Bates became the first AFLW players to reach the 50-game milestone in Brisbane's round 9 win over North Melbourne, with both among Brisbane's best players.^[28]

Leading into the 2023 season, Sarah Black named Anderson at no. 5 on her annual list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.^[29]

In 2024, Anderson was named Brisbane's best player in its loss to North Melbourne in week 1^[30] and was best afield in its win over Melbourne in week 2 with an AFLW record 43 disposals.^[31] She was among Brisbane's best players in wins over Collingwood in week 3,^[32] and the Western Bulldogs^[33] and West Coast in both week 4 matches.^[34]

Updated to the end of the 2025 season.^[35]

Team

• 2× AFL Women's premiership player (Brisbane): 2021, 2023
• 2× AFL Women's minor premiership (Brisbane): 2017, S7
• McClelland Trophy (Brisbane): 2025

Individual

• AFL Women's best and fairest: S7
• AFL Women's equal games record holder
• Brisbane games record holder
• 3× AFL Women's All-Australian team: 2019, 2023, 2024
• 4× Brisbane best and fairest: 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024