HE MAY be a quietly spoken 18 year old when he’s off the field, but Hawthorn recruit Jed Anderson puts that personality trait behind him as soon as he steps across the white line.
The talented midfielder joined Hawthorn during last year’s exchange period, where he was pre-listed by Greater Western Sydney and traded to the Club in a deal that saw 2008 premiership player Stephen Gilham depart.
The deal was struck on the final day of the month-long trade season, and it wasn’t until two days before the2pm deadline on October 26 that Anderson discovered the Hawks were interested.
A call from Club officials came as a shock to the teenager who admitted he had no contact with the Hawks at the 2012 Draft Combine.
It was a nervous trade period for Anderson, kept in the dark about the intentions of the Giants to whom he was pre-listed as a Scholarship player from the Northern Territory.
Anderson said the shock phone call was, in the end a welcome one.
“I didn’t really know at all Hawthorn was interested, I didn’t catch up with them at the draft camp so I didn’t know what was going on through the trade period and what GWS were going to do,” he told hawthornfc.com.au
“On the second last day Hawthorn gave me a call and said they were interested and if something happens, if a trade could get worked out we’d go from there.
“I was rapt to get the call but I didn’t know what to say or feel.
“I had a few ups and downs throughout the year but it just made me feel really good and excited.”
He arrived at the Ricoh Centre shortly after the trade period, and embarked on his first pre-season at the Hawks.
Shy by nature, Anderson revealed he didn’t know what to expect when he walked through the doors at Waverley Park.
Now, after playing his first match as a Hawthorn player in week one of the NAB Cup he says he feels more confident about his position within the playing group.
“I was shy at first because I didn’t know what to expect but now I’ve come out of my shell, I’m a lot more confident around the boys and around the club in general,” he said.
“To see all the guys who I’ve been watching on TV, it’s surreal to actually see them every day, to train and play alongside them.
“I didn’t really know where to fit in at the start but all the boys have been really welcoming. It’s a great club to be part of.”
Anderson doesn’t let his introverted personality get in the way of his football though, admitting he’s a different person when he steps out on the football field.
Despite standing at 178cm and weighing in at just 75kgs, the midfielder doesn’t see that as a shortcoming, as something that could hold him back from making his senior debut in 2013.
Instead, he is focused on performing his role for the team and honouring the jumper he wears.
“I’m a shy person, definitely but when I get out on the footy field I want to play for the team and play aggressively,” he said.
“One of my best attributes I think is that I just want to play for the team, for the jumper I wear.”
His mantra - attack the footy harder than those who are bigger than you.
“I don’t get too influenced by the bigger bodies, I’m not worried about it,” he said.
“Even though I’m a smaller type player I just think if I go harder than them at the ball, then I won’t come off second best.
“That sits in the back of my mind, even though they’ve got bigger bodies than me and they’ve been around for longer I’m not fussed by the body contact.
“I’ll just make sure I’m going in twice as hard and committed as they are.”
Kate Salemme is a member of Hawthorn's Digital Media team reporting exclusively for hawthornfc.com.au from the Ricoh Centre.
