How a fearful rookie ‘avoiding’ her coach became a national pioneer

Ally Anderson still recalls the fledgling days of her AFLW career, a time when she was so fearful of her place at the Brisbane Lions she hid from coach Craig Starcevich.

Never could she have anticipated she would be a pioneer behind the surge of women’s Aussie rules, nor that she would be joining Adelaide’s Ebony Marinoff in becoming the first players to reach 100 games on Sunday.

“It’s sort of a surreal feeling, I’ve been here for nine years now – 10 seasons – so it’s been a long journey,” Anderson said.

Ally Anderson of the Lions in action.Credit: AFL Photos

“I remember avoiding Craig in that first year thinking I was going to get dropped every game, so I’m surprised I’ve made it this far.”

Part of Anderson’s longevity has stemmed from her fortunate injury history, with her century lacking the niggles and concussions many suffer en route to such milestones.

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“A lot of the work starts in the pre-preseason,” Anderson said of her clean bill of health “and making sure my body is right coming into the season”.

Since Anderson’s maiden appearance in the maroon and yellow guernsey in 2017, the game has evolved to the cusp of full-time professionalism.

The 31-year-old remembers the early days of the competition when a host of cross code stars picked up the Sherrin – including Erin Phillips (basketball), Emma Kearney (cricket) and Brianna Davey (soccer).

Now, the game is dominated by athletes who blossomed through the grassroots of the code, with 32 per cent of Queensland’s total participation numbers in 2025 made up of women and girls – roughly 27,000 players.

The success of the Lions’ men’s and women’s programs – the former featuring in their third-straight AFL grand final on Saturday, with the latter competing in six of eight deciders – has coincided with a 13 per cent participation spike throughout Queensland, the biggest increase in the Australia.

“You saw a lot of cross code athletes in those first couple of years, so a lot of the kids coming through now have had the opportunity to watch us when they’re 12, 13 and even younger,” Anderson said.

“You’re seeing those natural footballers come through, and they’re absolutely dominating now. The game has changed a lot … it’s getting better every year.”

While Anderson has grown accustomed to taking the field in the last game of whatever competition she played, the two-time AFLW champion endured a frustrating road to lifting her first trophy for Brisbane in 2021 – having lost “the nine before that”.

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But the Lions’ push for yet another shot at the silverware will not come in as dominant fashion as their past campaigns – currently sitting seventh with three wins from six clashes, and yet to piece together consecutive triumphs.

Those defeats have come against the undefeated Kangaroos, as well as Hawthorn (third) and Carlton (sixth).

They will get their chance to build towards another finals’ series against Richmond at Brighton Homes Arena – the same afternoon the men’s side are expected to return from what they hope is another victorious visit to the MCG when they challenge Geelong for the flag.

“We’ve just got to stick to what we know and stick together too,” Anderson said.

“We’ve had a tough draw to start the season, a lot of the teams we’ve versed are in that top six, so we’re tinkering with things and positions and starting to find consistency now.

“It’s better to peak now and onwards.”

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