WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - AARON VANDENBERG

[Carlos Danger 380]

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-12-03/vandenbergs-form-hard-to-ignore-taylor

Being compared by the club to Anthony Miles, on top of the 56-possession thing, certainly appears to be a punt well worth taking.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,012]

Not so much helicopters but there were quite a few he didn't seem to strike properly or kick through the ball.

Yeah, more wobblers than helicopters.

[dazzledavey36 52,884]

Yeah, more wobblers than helicopters.

Are you serious?

I watch the footage and all his kick hit a target. With the quality of the footage not much chop you could hardly see how the ball spins so I dont know where your getting this business that most his kick are all wobblers when most the time his kicks are hitting targets with ease.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

The highlights on the MFC site have him kicking a goal against O'keefe and bringing Tom Mitchell in a fierce tackle.

Not that it means much.

Just interesting.

[Melbman2 226]

The highlights on the MFC site have him kicking a goal against O'keefe and bringing Tom Mitchell in a fierce tackle.

Not that it means much.

Just interesting.

Does that mean we finally have an O'keefe type player?

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Does that mean we finally have an O'keefe type player?

Yes

[DeeSpencer 24,784]

The highlights on the MFC site have him kicking a goal against O'keefe and bringing Tom Mitchell in a fierce tackle.

Not that it means much.

Just interesting.

Yep I liked those bits the best. Mixing it with top players. That said it was a pretty average attempt and taking the grab over O'Keefe! But the way he bounced up and crumbed his own ball and snapped the goal was quality. You could also see why Sydney weren't putting O'Keefe in to their team in a hurry last year.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,652]

Both Robertson and McDonald came to the club through the national draft and were subsequently demoted to the rookie list. I don't know or why that happened - it certainly wouldn't be allowed today.

I would suggest it has been quite a while since we have had a decent player taken directly through the rookie list - perhaps Wonnaeamirri was the last.

Isn't that what we did with Jetta last year and allegedly offered Michael Evans this year?

[rpfc 28,052]

Back into full contact drills mid to late January so he should be good to go for what will be the most defining year of his life really...

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,383]

Another Magner?

[rpfc 28,052]

I don't think so, but we will have to wait and see, he may not even reach the heights of Magner...

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

How would you assess his pace, foot/hand skills and vision, rpfc?

Really interested in this selection.

[sydneydee 684]

I am also intrigued with this selection.

I'm really hoping that this turns out to be an inspired selection and that his form translates to Afl and he can make an impact in his 1st year.

[rpfc 28,052]

He's quick for his height and big arse, but nothing special. He has got solid skills as you guys have seen from the highlights, I always think he looks a bit rushed but, more often than not, they hit the target.

His vision and dynamism is what set him apart from the many fit plodders at the few NEAFL games I went to.

I won't go out on a limb, it's tough to make the grade and he might only get this year to do it, such is life on the Rookie List - a lot can go right, and a lot can go wrong.

I hope he is asked to compete with the bottom four midfielders for a spot in the rotation (M Jones, Salem, Bail, Newton, Michie, Riley, McKenzie, and the kids from this draft) rather than asked to play another role. He is a pure, 'go and get it' mid in NEAFL and that is why he was drafted, let's see how he goes.

[obbafan 128]

I don't think he'll be fast. Not many 188cm solidly built white blokes playing local footy are!

I don't think coming off a shoulder injury and having never spent time at a state league, TAC or AFL club that he'll be fit either. A 10 minute 3km is a good sign. But a lot of draftees run good 3km times but then have a lot of work to do building up to AFL level with repeat efforts etc.

I don't think he'll have perfect skills either. His skills look very reasonable, but even our poorly skilled players look good at VFL yet alone NEAFL.

What he does look like is a competitor and very good at finding the footy. He links up, he reads the drop of the ball. I think those skills will transfer at least to VFL. If he hits form early next year in the VFL then I think he's young enough to step up and make it at AFL still. But in terms of impact next year I think that will depend on if he can get a kick playing forward as well.

Agree but skill development is what (highly paid and credentialed) coaches are for. We complain here about the attitude of high draft picks but skills can be honed. His approach is clearly determined.

Great potential it would seem for a less than major investment, Good choice.

[rpfc 28,052]

Had a chance to chat to him when I was down in Melbourne last weekend - his former Ainslie NEAFL mates smuggled him into the Sat Night of the Coaching Conference at Etihad to watch the last 60 mins of the Asian Cup (he didn't watch much of it though). He was strictly on the waters too - he is very keen to do the right thing (TGR - if you were anywhere near the bar on the far end of the room - that's where he was).

He is a very confident boy but said he has got nothing on these AFL boys. Hopefully they can take that confidence into games...

I won't repeat everything he said but one piece of relevant information was that the 1st year players have not been given a position of the ground that they will play or a specific role - they have just been told to concentrate on a basic mindset of good behaviours; all the ones you can think of that a player needs - from training habits, to recovery, to in game behaviours like sheparding, attack on the footy and the how they want to play as a team.

I would say it is like a little boot camp to get the new recruits up to speed - tinker with the plan for those with experience with it, and let the recruits learn in their first year.

He is confident they will give him a couple years to get going but he looks solid, he looks stronger than he was a few months ago, and he is just keen to get down to Casey and play some good footy in 2015 and earn that second year.

[Cards13 9,117]

Nice RF

[rpfc 28,052]

Nice bit of trivia I forgot to mention.

Ainslie's NEAFL Coach Chris Rourke was pushing the bloke to anyone who would listen and so he went off and made a bloke listen - he rang up one George Stone (known from footy playing days down in Vic) and told him about Aaron.

Now that doesn't necessarily mean that Stone is the reason Aaron was given his chance but its a nice little story about recruitment that you rarely see anymore; former fat kid from Tathra gets recruited from non-football heartland after call from coach to a wise old bloke at an AFL club.

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

Nice bit of trivia I forgot to mention.

Ainslie's NEAFL Coach Chris Rourke was pushing the bloke to anyone who would listen and so he went off and made a bloke listen - he rang up one George Stone (known from footy playing days down in Vic) and told him about Aaron.

Now that doesn't necessarily mean that Stone is the reason Aaron was given his chance but its a nice little story about recruitment that you rarely see anymore; former fat kid from Tathra gets recruited from non-football heartland after call from coach to a wise old bloke at an AFL club.

Great story rpfc. Thank you

Aaron certainly looked at home in the half that he played. Like others here I thought he was a new key position player when he first ran out on Thursday. Big boy. Imagine it will take him a bit to get AFL fit. If he plays in the top tier would think he will start as the sub after putting a few ks in the legs at Casey

Another big boy and possible surprise packet may be the bloke we picked directly after him, Mitchell White. Also listed at 188cm, booming left footer and Stingrays B & F winner. A recent training report had him slotting a post high goal from 50. Love that.

You get the feeling this last draft for us may be transformational for the MFC

[Redleg 40,219]

Great story rpfc. Thank you

Aaron certainly looked at home in the half that he played. Like others here I thought he was a new key position player when he first ran out on Thursday. Big boy. Imagine it will take him a bit to get AFL fit. If he plays in the top tier would think he will start as the sub after putting a few ks in the legs at Casey

Another big boy and possible surprise packet may be the bloke we picked directly after him, Mitchell White. Also listed at 188cm, booming left footer and Stingrays B & F winner. A recent training report had him slotting a post high goal from 50. Love that.

You get the feeling this last draft for us may be transformational for the MFC

As I said on BMc thread, Brendan thinks both boys have a future in the game if they work hard.

[dazzledavey36 52,884]

While Vanders is listed as 188cm i too thought he looked alot taller. I wouldn't be surprised if his actual height is about 191.

Big boy indeed.

[P-man 13,366]

You get the feeling this last draft for us may be transformational for the MFC

Agreed. Emphasis on "may be" cause if there is one thing we've learned it is not to count our chickens before hatching, but Newton and Vanders look like they could be very astute pick ups.

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

While Vanders is listed as 188cm i too thought he looked alot taller. I wouldn't be surprised if his actual height is about 191.

Big boy indeed.

Agree. It would be interesting to see him standing next to Dom Tyson

[Redleg 40,219]

While Vanders is listed as 188cm i too thought he looked alot taller. I wouldn't be surprised if his actual height is about 191.

Big boy indeed.

Agree. He looks taller than 188. Stood next to Jessie and didn't seem to be that much difference.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

From just half a meaningless game I'm convinced that this guy can really play.

He seems to just play in a no nonsense simple what which I really like.