PROUD JED FEELS RIGHT AT HOME FOR NT CLASH

IT will be a proud moment when Northern Territory product Jed Anderson runs on for North Melbourne against Gold Coast Suns on Saturday for his 90th match at the elite level.

The round 12 match will be the first time the 28-year-old has played an AFL game in the NT.

His immediate family – including mum Libby, sisters J’noemi and Jasmine, who was on the Adelaide Crows AFLW list, and brother and former Carlton player Joe – will ill gather to watch him live.

He will also be joined by his wife Nicky and three kids, Elijah, Jasiah and Katerinah – who will run on to the ground with him – making it an extra special experience for the Darwin Buffaloes export.

“It’ll be an unbelievable able experiexperi ence for them,” the midfielder said.

“It is very exciting, Mum was saying that the other day, I didn’t realise that we haven’t all been together to watch (before).

“I can’t wait. The Northern Territory is home, there’s always that pull to come back and be with the family.”

Anderson has struck form just in time for the NT trip, shaking off a mild hamstring strain he suffered in round 4 against the Bulldogs in the VFL, to play the past four games at the highest level while averaging 21 disposals per match.

“I’m on the up now, which is good,” he said. “I’m ready to go … I don’t see any reason why I won’t be playing, touch wood. I wanted to be right for it … it’s been a long time since I played up there.”

And Anderson is likely to end up repaying the favour in coming years, with 17-year-old J’noemi carving out her own path in women’s football.

After playing with St Mary’s during the 2021-22 NTFL Women’s Premier League season, and with Sandringham Dragons while studying at Melbourne Girls Grammar this year, J’noemi has been touted as an AFLW draft fancy.

“She’s going very well … making her own name in women’s footy,” he said.

Anderson has provided handy counsel for his sister, having gone through the draft experience a decade ago before he was selected by a pre-threepeat Hawthorn.

“Just relax and enjoy your time playing footy,” Anderson said of his advice to his sister.

“I just said just go out there and play your natural way. If a club wants you, a club wants you.”

It will be an emotional homecoming for Anderson, where he started his senior footy career at 15 with Darwin Buffaloes.

Anderson has also hinted at possibly playing for Buffaloes down the track after his AFL career wraps up.