2025 draftee and New South Wales' own Angus Anderson will make his AFL debut tomorrow night in Collingwood's Gather Round clash against Fremantle.
Anderson becomes the first male player hailing from the AFL North Coast league to debut in the AFL.
Affectionately known as ‘Banger’ in the local footy community on the North Coast, the 22-year-old began his AFL journey with the Sawtell/Toormina Saints, beginning in NAB AFL Auskick before playing his first game of senior football at the age of 16.
In 2020, Anderson was awarded the AFL North Coast’s Under 17 League Best & Fairest, before serving as Captain of the Sydney Swans Academy in 2022 as a junior.
That same year, Anderson represented the Allies at the National Boys Championships, before moving to South Australia in 2023 to play for the Sturt Football Club in the SANFL, where he was drafted from two years later with pick 57 at the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft.
He prides himself on his contested game, playing 18 games across the 2025 SANFL Season, averaging 20.1 disposals and 4.6 tackles a game.
"Tough," said Collingwood Head Coach Craig McRae said when asked to describe Anderson.
"The fans will love his tackle intensity. Every time we show some highlights in the VFL, he's really smashing in and hurting the opposition.
"His contest and clearance stuff is his strength and we play against an opposition that is No.1 in the competition for those parts of the game."
The AFL North Coast has an impressive track record of producing AFLW talent, boasting three female players who have since played at the elite level: Cambridge McCormick, Brianna McFarlane and Nikki Wallace.
Collingwood will meet Fremantle at Adelaide Oval tomorrow night (Friday, April 10) during 2026 AFL Gather Round ... A Festival of Footy, with first ball-up at 7.40pm.