JUST 320 kilometres from Darwin and “a few” more from his home town, Katherine, Joe Anderson experienced a south-west-island special.

“We were catching tuna in a four-and-a-half to five-metre boat. As we were bleeding the tuna, a massive hammerhead shark swam underneath,” Anderson said.

Now, most people would have grabbed a sharp object and braced themselves for a Jaws-like attack. But for Anderson it was a free trip to the aquarium. 

“I had never seen a hammerhead before, just white pointers,” the calm and collected Carlton first-year player reminisced. “So I stood up in the boat and just looked at it.”

Fortunately, the hammerhead lived up to its peaceable reputation and continued on its way. But the question has to be asked: does Anderson possess the swimming ability and speed to have outswum the inquisitive creature?

“I do now with all the rehab work I’ve been doing,” he said with a laugh, referring to the countless hours he has spent in the pool to heal his injured hamstring.

Apart from the hammerhead incident and many moments growing up in Darwin, the talkative 18-year-old ranks his trip last year as part of the first AFL Indigenous Youth Tour to South Africa as one of his most memorable experiences.

“I have a few photos and memorabilia from the trip. Every time I go home I look at them and think back to the trip and how fortunate we are as a country,” he said. “One of the main things I learned from the journey was not to take things for granted. Here in Australia we tend to do that, whereas over there they take pride in the small things they have.”

Anderson’s family football connections run deep. He remembers one day walking into the back yard at home and finding Adelaide Crows star Andrew McLeod hovering over the barbeque.

“His dad played football with my grandfather,” Anderson explained.

As fate would have it, his and McLeod’s worlds have now started colliding on the football field, Anderson getting a close-up display of the Crows dynamo’s best work when he played against him in round nine this year.

“After the game he asked me how I was going and told me to keep training hard and do my best. He sends me a message every now and again,” Anderson said.

The young Blue has taken the superstar’s advice and, despite battling a “frustrating” injury, is more than enjoying his first year in AFL.

“I love every bit of being at the Carlton Football Club,” he said. “I have been fortunate enough to get a couple of games – even though I did not expect to.”

The change in coaching style is one of the main aspects of AFL life Anderson is enjoying. “It is more structured,” he said about Carlton’s coaching philosophy. “Each player is set a goal or given a task to do. In Darwin, it was more free-flowing and you could do what you wanted.”

“I prefer the challenge that Denis [Pagan] sets. It drives you to play better and improve your skills.”

At the same time, you cannot completely dismiss the effect on his success this year of the present his parents gave him for his 18th birthday. According to Anderson, his new iPod is an essential part of his game. 

“Before games I always listen to music. 50 Cent, Eminem – mainly gangsta songs that help pump me up,” he said.

In a bid to quell his parents’ fears that their son may soon ‘bling-up’ and move to the back streets of LA with some ‘hoochies’, Anderson stressed his iPod is multi-faceted.

“Before I go to sleep I listen to Pete Murray and a whole bunch of relaxing songs, so it’s not all gangsta stuff,” he laughed.

IN THE KITCHEN WITH CHEF ANDERSON

If you were given keys to a brand-new restaurant, what would be the “signature dish”?

“Magpie Goose, it is the best-tasting thing I have ever had.”

Any preparation tips?

“We cook it pretty fresh, so, straight after we kill, pluck and gut it.”

Cooking instructions for Magpie Goose à la Anderson?

“Just put it on the barbeque.”

What would be the restaurant’s “chef’s special”?

“I don’t do much cooking, but my cousins and brothers up in Darwin like my spaghetti bolognaise.”