Greg Anderson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Greg Anderson is a former Australian rules football
player who played for Port Adelaide
in the SANFL as well as and in the VFL/AFL
.
as the fairest and most brilliant player of the season. He won All Australian selection in 1987 in what was to be his last season of SANFL football until 1995.
Greg Anderson signed with from 1988
and went on to play 103 games with the Bombers, while kicking 60 goals. Anderson played in his 2nd losing Grand Final in 1990
when Essendon went down to at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
. Anderson continued with the Bombers until the end of the 1992 season
following which he returned home to Adelaide to play with the Adelaide Crows
.
Anderson made his Crows debut against in Round 1 of the 1993 AFL season
, picking up 21 kicks and 3 handballs in the Crows 94 point win at the MCG. He would on to play 59 games for the club until his retirement from football after the 1996 AFL season
. Anderson won the Fos Williams Medal
for his best on ground performance against Western Australia in the AFL State of Origin
game at Football Park in 1993. For his performance against the Sandgropers he was rewarded with his 2nd All-Australian selection. Anderson was also a vital member of the Crows team that made the AFL Finals
in just their 3rd season in 1993. The club finished 3rd after losing the Preliminary final against Anderson's former team Essondon who went on to win the Grand Final
a week later against .
After his stellar 1993 season, Anderson's form started to drop off and starting in 1995 he was dropped on occasion back to Port Adelaide in the SANFL. He played enough games with Port during both the 1995 and 1996 seasons to be able to qualify for their finals campaigns under SANFL rules regarding AFL player eligibility. In both 1995 and 1996 he finally played in winning premierships when he was a member of the Port Adelaide teams that defeated Central District
in both years.
Greg Anderson retired from league football following Port Adelaide's win in the 1996 SANFL Grand Final. He had played 121 games with the Magpies over 6 seasons (1983-87, 1995-96), 103 games for Essendon from 1988-92 and 59 games for Adelaide from 1993-96.
in the SANFL. Unfortunately for Anderson in his four seasons at the helm of the Panthers he was unable to lift the team into the finals finishing 6th (2000), 7th (2001), 8th (2002) and 7th again in 2003. He was replaced as coach of the Panthers for the 2004 SANFL season.
charity match for the Little Heroes Foundation since its inception in 2000 playing for both the "Adelaide Crows" and "South Australia" (teams mainly comprise of retired players along with various celebrities). His most recent appearance was on 3 October, 2011 for South Australia in the 2nd "State of Origin Slowdown" held at the Adelaide Oval
.
In 2000 he was named on the wing in the Adelaide Crows Team of the Decade 1991-2000. He currently lives in Adelaide with his wife and children.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player who played for Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
in the SANFL as well as and in the VFL/AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
Playing Career
Anderson made his SANFL debut as a 17 year old for Port Adelaide against Sturt in Round 5 of the 1983 season at Football Park and proved himself to be a dashing winger with a long left foot kick. He played in Port's loss to Norwood in the 1984 SANFL Grand Final and was the winner of the 1986 Magarey MedalMagarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
as the fairest and most brilliant player of the season. He won All Australian selection in 1987 in what was to be his last season of SANFL football until 1995.
Greg Anderson signed with from 1988
1988 VFL season
The 92nd Victorian Football League Premiership Season commenced in April 1988 and concluded on 24 September 1988, with Hawthorn winning their seventh Premiership in their sixth consecutive Grand Final appearance.-Night Series:...
and went on to play 103 games with the Bombers, while kicking 60 goals. Anderson played in his 2nd losing Grand Final in 1990
1990 AFL Grand Final
The 1990 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Collingwood Football Club and the Essendon Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 6 October 1990. It was the 94th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football...
when Essendon went down to at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
. Anderson continued with the Bombers until the end of the 1992 season
1992 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1992. The AFL Grand Final this year was won by the West Coast Eagles, who became the first non-Victorian club to win a Premiership.-Ladder:...
following which he returned home to Adelaide to play with the Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
.
Anderson made his Crows debut against in Round 1 of the 1993 AFL season
1993 AFL season
-Ladder:All teams played 20 games during the home and away season, for a total of 165. Each team also had two byes. An additional 7 games were played during the finals series.-Awards:*The Brownlow Medal was awarded to Gavin Wanganeen of ....
, picking up 21 kicks and 3 handballs in the Crows 94 point win at the MCG. He would on to play 59 games for the club until his retirement from football after the 1996 AFL season
1996 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1996.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Lighting Premiership:...
. Anderson won the Fos Williams Medal
Fos Williams Medal
The Fos Williams Medal has been awarded since 1981 to the best Australian rules football player from South Australia during Inter-State or Inter-Competition matches. The medal is named in honour of legendary South Australian National Football League player and coach Fos Williams.Originally the...
for his best on ground performance against Western Australia in the AFL State of Origin
Interstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
game at Football Park in 1993. For his performance against the Sandgropers he was rewarded with his 2nd All-Australian selection. Anderson was also a vital member of the Crows team that made the AFL Finals
AFL finals system
The current AFL finals system was devised by the Australian Football League in 2000 as its end-of-season championship playoff tournament. It is a revision of the McIntyre Final Eight System, used by the AFL from 1994 to 1999, designed to address several perceived issues with that system...
in just their 3rd season in 1993. The club finished 3rd after losing the Preliminary final against Anderson's former team Essondon who went on to win the Grand Final
1993 AFL Grand Final
The 1993 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Essendon Football Club and Carlton Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 25 September 1993. It was the 97th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football...
a week later against .
After his stellar 1993 season, Anderson's form started to drop off and starting in 1995 he was dropped on occasion back to Port Adelaide in the SANFL. He played enough games with Port during both the 1995 and 1996 seasons to be able to qualify for their finals campaigns under SANFL rules regarding AFL player eligibility. In both 1995 and 1996 he finally played in winning premierships when he was a member of the Port Adelaide teams that defeated Central District
Central District Bulldogs
Central District Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in the city of Elizabeth about 25 km to the north of Adelaide, South Australia.-Origins and Background:...
in both years.
Greg Anderson retired from league football following Port Adelaide's win in the 1996 SANFL Grand Final. He had played 121 games with the Magpies over 6 seasons (1983-87, 1995-96), 103 games for Essendon from 1988-92 and 59 games for Adelaide from 1993-96.
Coaching Career
In 2000 Anderson became coach of the South Adelaide Football ClubSouth Adelaide Football Club
South Adelaide Football Club competes in the South Australian National Football League . Known as the Panthers, their home ground is Hickinbotham Oval , located in Noarlunga Downs in the southern suburbs of Adelaide....
in the SANFL. Unfortunately for Anderson in his four seasons at the helm of the Panthers he was unable to lift the team into the finals finishing 6th (2000), 7th (2001), 8th (2002) and 7th again in 2003. He was replaced as coach of the Panthers for the 2004 SANFL season.
Post Retirement
Greg Anderson has been a regular player in the annual West End SlowdownWest End Slowdown
The West End Slowdown is an annual charity Australian rules football match run by the Little Heroes Foundation to raise funds to improve oncology treatment for South Australian children....
charity match for the Little Heroes Foundation since its inception in 2000 playing for both the "Adelaide Crows" and "South Australia" (teams mainly comprise of retired players along with various celebrities). His most recent appearance was on 3 October, 2011 for South Australia in the 2nd "State of Origin Slowdown" held at the Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
.
In 2000 he was named on the wing in the Adelaide Crows Team of the Decade 1991-2000. He currently lives in Adelaide with his wife and children.