North Melbourne’s hard-nosed midfielder Jed Anderson is looking forward to the season ahead, after putting pen-to-paper on a two-year deal.
The deal will see him at Arden St until the end of 2022.
“It’s a bit of a relief to get it done, I’m happy with where it’s at and where we’re going as a club,” Anderson told North Media.
The 26-year-old averaged 21 disposals, 5 tackles and 4.3 clearances per game in 2020 and ranked 15th in the league for tackles per game.
Anderson said it was a combination of playing his role for the team and his game growing in confidence.
“It’s just that intensity and pressure and backing my ability to win the inside ball and getting it out to the guys on the outside,” he said.
“Trying to back it up each week, I just went out there and played footy in the end. Probably as the season ended I took real confidence in my game.”
With a raft of emerging young talent at Arden St, Anderson said he is excited by the future.
“It’s very exciting to be one of the senior guys at the club, having these young guys pushing for spots and playing some very good footy holds us in good stead in the years to come,” he said.
“They’ve [young players] shown some talent this year and hopefully a few of the guys really step up next year into their positions and roles and hopefully we can have a better season than we did this year.
“It’s also very exciting that we will get an influx of new kids come through [in the Draft].”
With North yet to appoint a new head coach for next season, Anderson said he is looking forward to the change.
“It’s obviously sad to see Shawry [Rhyce Shaw] go but getting a new coach brings a different view on things and seeing what they’re going to bring in is exciting,” he added.
“It’s going to be a bit of a change but we’re looking forward to it and getting stuck into pre-season.”
North list manager Glenn Luff said Anderson is an important part of the team.
“We’re very happy to get the deal done and have Jed with us for the next two years,” Luff said.
“He’s an important player for us with his competitiveness, hard style of play and commitment to the team.
“His last three years with the footy club have been really consistent, this year particularly where he placed third in the best-and-fairest behind Luke McDonald and Jy Simpkin.”
Anderson has played 78 games.
