58 minutes ago, Undeeterred said:

I find the 'player owes club' argument hard on the basis that clubs draft players acting in the club's interests. It's isn't as if they're doing someone a favour - they are doing it because they think it will make their football team better. On that basis, I don't think players owe clubs anything just because the club was clever enough and ahead of the curve enough to find a player who was otherwise in relative obscurity.

Fair enough. 

Some players are on record as saying differently to you. 

MAN CRUSH INTENSIFIES

Great to see him stay, I thought he was off when they started to talk about his family. You beauty Go Dees!

46 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

MAN CRUSH INTENSIFIES

That describes his playing style.

4 hours ago, ProDee said:

I don't often subscribe to the view that a player "owes" a club, and I'm not even sure I do in this instance, but vandenBerg was plucked from the NEAFL and there's no guarantee he'd even be in the AFL system if not for the Dees (rookie draft pick).

I could be wrong and @rpfc may be able to clarify.  I doubt he was on any other club's radar.

Anyway, it's great that he's staying.

Averaged 32 touches, won back to back best and fairest, had a 56 disposal game and if I remember correctly played a good game against the Swans reserves. And was set to go to the SANFL after having a shoulder reco. Maybe no other side drafts him but they'd be negligent if they hadn't checked him out on numbers alone.

Certainly rookie picks probably owe some gratitude but the way to repay getting a chance is by training and playing to the best of your abilities, not necessarily signing on for another contract a few years later. 

2 hours ago, johndemonic said:

That describes his playing style.

The first view I had of Vanders was in his first year at the club. He was playing in a practice game V Fremantle at South Fremantle oval.

He looked so strong and i felt we had a good one here.

In the same game was another newcomer by the name of Sam Frost. He too looked great with his speed and tenacity. Pleasingly both had a big impact on our finals successes. Thanks Vanders. Hope you had a word to Jesse.

Edited October 10, 20187 yr by Bobby McKenzie

5 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Averaged 32 touches, won back to back best and fairest, had a 56 disposal game and if I remember correctly played a good game against the Swans reserves. And was set to go to the SANFL after having a shoulder reco. Maybe no other side drafts him but they'd be negligent if they hadn't checked him out on numbers alone.

Certainly rookie picks probably owe some gratitude but the way to repay getting a chance is by training and playing to the best of your abilities, not necessarily signing on for another contract a few years later. 

Aware of all that. 

Doesn't answer my question. 

10 hours ago, Cards13 said:

No he doesn’t... while it’s nice to see he wants to stay, he doesn’t owe anything to anyone but himself and his family to make the right decision for he and them.

 

Plucked from the obscurity of ACT football at age 22 and seven months and given the opportunity to realise his dream of playing at the highest level, manages well for a season and then is supported financially and medically for almost two full seasons of rehabilitation, during which time he is paid...at a guess, something in excess of $300,000...

Yes, I say he does owe the club at this point in time. People, members, supporters, team mates, coaches have invested in vdB, supported him morally and physically and seven comeback games is not enough return. He clearly feels the same way now there is nothing between the Sydney and MFC offers and has chosen to stay.

All football clubs are a community of shared aspirations and experiences where the journey together counts for plenty. Belonging to those who take that ride with you is what gives the experience meaning.

It is a sterile place you inhabit, Cards, where the only loyalty is to oneself and one's close relatives. I won't be joining you there, or even applying for a tourist visa.

 

Very happy about this.

I don’t know why exactly, but his was the signature I was most interested in, and potentially the most concerned about.

He seems to have a unique offering for us (on and off field), and would’ve been hard to replace.

 

Great to see a player who knows he WANTS to stay at our club and has signed on for a few seasons. 

Well done VB. 

14 hours ago, Undeeterred said:

I find the 'player owes club' argument hard on the basis that clubs draft players acting in the club's interests. It's isn't as if they're doing someone a favour - they are doing it because they think it will make their football team better. On that basis, I don't think players owe clubs anything just because the club was clever enough and ahead of the curve enough to find a player who was otherwise in relative obscurity.

I think supporters place players into two categories. Those who were drafted with early picks are considered not to have had a choice about who they play for and are therefore not deemed to owe the club that drafted them anything. On the other hand, players selected with late draft or rookie picks are considered to have been lucky to be drafted at all, and therefore expected to owe something to the club that selected them.    

In this particular instance, I'm impressed with the mature way the club handled his personal situation. They didn't threaten him or cast him aside when he wanted to consider his options. Instead, it appears they made him feel that they cared for his best interests which may well have encouraged him to stay. 

10 hours ago, pitmaster said:

Plucked from the obscurity of ACT football at age 22 and seven months and given the opportunity to realise his dream of playing at the highest level, manages well for a season and then is supported financially and medically for almost two full seasons of rehabilitation, during which time he is paid...at a guess, something in excess of $300,000...

Yes, I say he does owe the club at this point in time. People, members, supporters, team mates, coaches have invested in vdB, supported him morally and physically and seven comeback games is not enough return. He clearly feels the same way now there is nothing between the Sydney and MFC offers and has chosen to stay.

All football clubs are a community of shared aspirations and experiences where the journey together counts for plenty. Belonging to those who take that ride with you is what gives the experience meaning.

It is a sterile place you inhabit, Cards, where the only loyalty is to oneself and one's close relatives. I won't be joining you there, or even applying for a tourist visa.

 

I get totally invested in players and the club, I still feel sick in the stomach at the thought of Hogs potentially leaving but I think I’m pretty level headed about it.

I mean just because we sent someone to local footy to watch VDB play, drafting him and agreeing to pay him money to play for us doesn’t mean he owes us anything in my mind. If he was no good we would have sacked him like a Dion J. It’s a sport, people get injured, that’s the risk clubs take, hoping they get performance above how much they pay the player.

I’m stoked he stayed with us, especially after Sydney showed interest and a 3 year contract we weren’t willing to give him... but wowee now he has one... 

I'm pumped to hear this. Not particularly for the player himself, just the symbolism of it. He had every reason to want to go, and nobody but a few nuffies would have begruded him, but in the end said "no thanks, I want to play for the Melbourne Football Club". I know some don't personally invest in the players, but for me this will add some shine when he does play well. Happy days!

Interesting to hear a playback of a Tom Harley interview this morning on RSN. He said they don’t get many players enquiring about the Swans for a possible move home due to family reasons. 

He didn’t say how close the deal was to going through but he had nothing but praise for Vanders. They rate him highly as a player and a person. Spoke to a lot people about him too. 

 Aaron Vandenberg is built for finals football. He hits,  you stay hit he breathes down your neck and tackles hard. He comes at you with great intensity. What l love most is his loyalty to the club and for that l give him great credit and  more respect . Rapt your still with us Vanders.