Jana Anderson – An AFL Queensland employee who provided a glowing character reference for Jaiden Fidge after he was charged has reportedly left her former role with the sporting body. Fidge was later jailed for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl, while another convicted offe
An AFL Queensland staffer who once wrote a glowing character reference for a footballer later jailed for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl is no longer working in her former role, according to reports.
Jaiden Fidge. 24. from Toowoomba. Queensland. was sentenced in March to four years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to sexual penetration of a child under 16. Riley Glenn Smith. 26. from Albury. New South Wales. received five years and 11 months after pleading guilty to two counts of the same offence.
The pair admitted abusing the teenage girl at a birthday party in Victoria’s Surf Coast Shire in February 2024. News Corp reported that AFL Queensland’s Regional Lead – Central Queensland. Jana Anderson. wrote the reference on an official AFL letterhead for Fidge even after he had already been charged.
The reference was provided during the 2025 football season—more than a year after the offending, and after Fidge had been charged. Fidge later pleaded guilty in early 2026.
Anderson is described as no longer employed in her former role about two months later, after the reference was exposed. The Daily Mail has contacted the AFL and AFL Queensland for comment. The report says it does not suggest her employment status is linked to providing the reference. adding that Anderson’s LinkedIn profile still lists her as a ‘competition and participation manager at AFL.’.
In the letter. Anderson identified herself as “Jana Anderson” and wrote that she was “the Regional Lead – Central Queensland with AFL Queensland.” She said she provided the reference for “Mr Jaiden Fidge. ” whom she had come to know through her professional role. “particularly in his capacity as Captain of the University Cougars during the 2025 season.”.
She described Fidge as someone who “consistently demonstrated strong leadership and professionalism.” Anderson also wrote that “Jaiden holds himself and those around him to a high standard and contributes to a team environment that prioritises respectful behaviour and accountability.”
The reference further claimed Fidge had been providing “support to younger players at his club” and “encouraging good standards around training, preparation, and behaviour.” Anderson added that Fidge could “continue making positive contributions to his community, particularly through sport.”
At court, the case heard that the victim told both men she was 14 years old during the party. Judge Gerard Mullaly said the offending involved “domination by stronger, bigger, adult men over a young girl,” describing it as “abhorrent” and “shameful.”
The court also heard Fidge later boasted about the assault using degrading language. “You, Mr Fidge, boasted to other members of the party that you and Mr Smith had ‘put the victim on a spit,’” Judge Mullaly said during sentencing.
By the time the sentencing reached the County Court, the harm to the victim was laid out in detail. The court heard she later experienced nightmares and engaged in self-harm after the assaults. In a victim impact statement. she said: “I continuously blame myself for what happened and nothing seems to get better.” Her father told the court he found his daughter in a “catatonic state” the following morning. adding: “I spend much of my time riddled with guilt for failing to keep my daughter safe.”.
Fidge captained the University Cougars in Queensland’s Darling Downs competition and won the Holman Medal as best and fairest in 2025. Smith played for the North Albury Hoppers in the Ovens and Murray Football League.
Both men will remain on the sex offender register for 15 years.
The AFL told News Corp that AFL Queensland had not been aware Fidge was facing child sex charges at the time the reference was written. A spokesperson said the organisation “would not have approved” a character reference being provided and that Fidge would have been deregistered and banned from playing had officials known he had been charged.
The story now sits at the intersection of football’s culture and the consequences of choices made long after wrongdoing began—choices that were described in glowing terms on official letterhead, even as the legal process had already moved past the point of uncertainty.
AFL AFL Queensland Jana Anderson Jaiden Fidge Riley Glenn Smith character reference Holman Medal Surf Coast Shire child sex offender County Court