HAWTHORN midfielder Jed Anderson has thrust himself into the frame for senior selection after a solid performance in Box Hill’s 100-point victory over Coburg on Sunday.
The 21-year-old, who played four of the Hawks’ first six AFL games this season, gathered 27 disposals and kicked six goals playing predominantly through the midfield in what the exciting talent has labelled his best effort for 2015.
“My performance was pretty good, probably the best I’ve played all year and it was a good, consistent four quarters,” Anderson said.
“It was a good performance all-round from the boys. We played well, we played our game style and it was a good day of footy.”
Having suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out for almost the entirety of the 2014 campaign, Anderson has returned this season fitter and stronger and has so far enjoyed simply getting back out on the ground.
“Yeah I was a bit unlucky last year, but it happens in footy and I think I’ve come out better this year," he said.
"I’ve gotten a bit stronger and better fitness in my game and am able to run games out more this year.
“(The season’s) been pretty good, I just love being back playing footy again, getting those games under my belt… and just being back out there with the boys is what I love about playing footy.”
But dealt a mid-season blow, Anderson missed two games after hurting his back in Box Hill’s Round 10 clash against Williamstown, before returning with a clear focus of improving his consistency throughout games.
“I’ve been a bit up and down through quarters in the early part of the year and I think when I came back after the back injury, I just had that mindset of playing four quarters out and making my man accountable for me and getting on the end of (the play)," he said.
Pushing for a recall to the AFL side playing the versatile role through both the midfield and forward line in which he’s proven he can be so damaging, Anderson may yet have to persevere with the senior side also in top form after successive big wins over Fremantle and Sydney.
But Box Hill coach Marco Bello says the midfielder could push for a senior berth after his impressive performance in the side’s 100-point win.
“He was just a ball of energy," Bello said.
"He looked like he was fit, he looked like he was able to move around freely and back to the form that we probably saw of him two years ago."
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