The AFLW has paid tribute to former Adelaide premiership player Heather Anderson, who died aged 28.
Key points:
- Heather Anderson was the 10th selection in the inaugural AFLW draft in 2016
- Injury cut her AFLW career short, though she did play in a winning grand final in 2017
- AFLW boss Nicole Livingstone said “words cannot express the deep sadness amongst the AFL and AFLW community”
Anderson, who also served as a medic in the army, played with Adelaide during the 2017 AFLW season and was part of the team that beat Brisbane in the grand final.
In a short statement on Twitter, the Crows said Anderson’s death was “unexpected”.
AFLW boss Nicole Livingstone also expressed her “deepest compassion to Heather’s family, friends and colleagues”.
“Words cannot express the deep sadness amongst the AFL and AFLW community at this time. Our sincerest condolences are to the Anderson family,” Livingstone said.
Anderson was well known among AFLW ranks for her distinctive pink headgear, which she said she wore to allow her vision-impaired mother to identify her on the field.
Injury ruined her promising AFLW career, with a spate of shoulder problems leading the Crows to delist her before the 2018 season.
Anderson was the 10th selection in the innaugural AFLW draft in 2016, and was the first player selected from the Northern Territory.
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
