Jed Anderson has returned to the North Melbourne side in recent weeks from a long-term ankle injury. A massive score in the round 11 game against St Kilda meant he was due a couple of healthy price rises over the bye period, with his rest coming in the last round of the three-week bye period. His score last week was more around his usual middling rate, which was all that could have been expected of him really, and those who jumped on board as a stepping stone trade will hope he can churn out another one today against the Giants before they offload him.
Jed Anderson has returned to the North Melbourne side in recent weeks from a long-term ankle injury. A massive score in the round 11 game against St Kilda meant he was due a couple of healthy price rises over the bye period, with his rest coming in the last round of the three-week bye period. His score last week was more around his usual middling rate, which was all that could have been expected of him really, and those who jumped on board as a stepping stone trade will hope he can churn out another one today against the Giants before they offload him.
Mister Anderson? Whoa!
After a breakout 2018, Jed Anderson delivered much the same sort of numbers last season: 20 disposals, five tackles and a club-high level of pressure acts. His role was almost completely inside, a far cry from his time earlier at the Roos and at Hawthorn where he played more HFF. He had an off-season shoulder arthroscope. Anderson is a solid B-grade contributor for his club, the sort of grime-streaked coal miner that every team needs one or two of to enable better-credentialed teammates to shine. His job security is high; his scoring ceiling, not so much. He will be available towards the end of your draft, but leave him to others.
Jed Anderson is one player of whom the recently departed North Melbourne coach Brad Scott can say that he improved his footy. After crossing from Hawthorn as a fringe flanker he was reborn as an inside mid for the Kangas, and thrived last year before some injuries interrupted the start of his 2019 campaign. If Rhyce Shaw wants to make something of his caretaker role, he will hope to build on the development of middle-range players like Anderson with a view to resurrecting North's faint finals hopes.
Hello, Mister Anderson
With his career at a crossroads after six years and two clubs, Jed Anderson enjoyed a breakout year in 2018 with a move from a HFF to central midfield. Averaging 20 disposals and five tackles, he was a good but not great fantasy scorer. Anderson excels inside the contest but lacks the outside game and aerobic capacity to be a strong fantasy scorer. He was listed as indefinite on the injury report after a JLT hamstring injury. Classified as a midfielder only for 2019, there are a few unknowns for Anderson, particularly with traded-in additions to the North midfield. He may spend more time forward which could be a positive if he regains forward eligibility. As it is, his trailing average is too close to the midfielder baseline to be drafted with anything other than a very late pick. That preseason injury will scare most away.
Mr Anderson is a virus
Across five listed seasons at two clubs, Jed Anderson has played 36 VFL games and 24 senior matches. His better performances in the VFL can extend beyond 20 disposals, but he has never gone beyond 16 at AFL level. The Hawks got Ryan Burton with the best pick in that trade, which means North got a bum deal. Anderson might need to give Liam Jones a call to find out how to transform a forgettable career into something useful. Avoid.
