Adelaide Crows ‘deeply saddened’ by unexpected death of former AFLW star Heather Anderson

The Adelaide Crows are mourning the sudden death of AFLW premiership Heather Anderson.

In a brief statement released on Monday, the club confirmed the 28-year-old passed away and expressed condolences to her family and friends.

‘The Adelaide Football Club is deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of Premiership player Heather Anderson,’ the Crows statement read. 

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.’

In a separate statement, AFLW boss Nicole Livingstone added: ‘Words cannot express the deep sadness amongst the AFL and AFLW community at this time. Our sincerest condolences are to the Anderson family.

‘On behalf of the AFL, I would like to express my deepest compassion to Heather’s family, friends and colleagues.’

An army medic, Anderson was selected by the Crows with pick No10 in the 2016 AFLW draft.

Anderson (right) was part of the Crows team that beat Brisbane 4.11 (35) to 4.5 (29) in the 2017 AFLW Grand Final to clinch the club’s maiden premiership

Anderson (far left) served as an army medic in the Northern Territory 

Anderson was renowned for her trademark pink headgear, which she wore to help her vision-impaired mum spot her on the field

Originally from the ACT but stationed in the Northern Territory, she became the first Northern Territory-based player drafted by the Crows in the process.

The defender had to overcome a serious shoulder injury in her debut season, when she ended up playing eight games as the Crows won their maiden premiership by beating Brisbane 4.11 (35) to 4.5 (29) in the Grand Final.

The premiership triumph, however, came at a cost for Anderson, who dislocated her shoulder and eventually had to undergo career-ending surgery.

Anderson became a popular figure within AFLW because of her trademark pink headgear, which she started wearing early in her career to help her vision-impaired mum spot her on the field.