Very exciting news if he's indeed on top of his injury and will play a big role in 2020.

I guess he has some expertise in overcoming injuries. He also has lots of experience with re-injuries after recovery.

Love him in the team when fit, but he almost never is.

Fragile.

Imagine being a 27 year old athlete who's excited about being able to run 16 times in a row without breaking down. Shows how tough the life of an AFL player would be.

Great news, hope 2020 is his year?

Those highlights from the Elimination Final go along way to show how much we missed him this season.  Played a key role in both finals wins and in the month leading up as well.  

Can't wait to see him fit and back out there.  He'll be like a new recruit in 2020.

2 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Those highlights from the Elimination Final go along way to show how much we missed him this season.  Played a key role in both finals wins and in the month leading up as well.  

Can't wait to see him fit and back out there.  He'll be like a new recruit in 2020.

People said that about 2018. I'm not holding my breath that he'll get on the park again. I like him, but I won't be surprised if he injures himself again.

Edited September 18, 20196 yr by AshleyH30

Just now, AshleyH30 said:

People said that about 2018. I'm not holding my breath that he'll get on the park again. I like him, but I won't be surprised if he injures himself again.

Me either.  We can't overlook the fact that he's had a horror run for 3 years now.  

However, if he gets himself fit, and yes it's a big if, then he would slot superbly back on to a flank for us in 2020.  We just need to keep our fingers crossed that it happens, but I don't think many here will be surprised if he doesn't.

Love Vanders, but unfortunately anything we get out of him from now on will be a bonus imo.

5 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Me either.  We can't overlook the fact that he's had a horror run for 3 years now.  

However, if he gets himself fit, and yes it's a big if, then he would slot superbly back on to a flank for us in 2020.  We just need to keep our fingers crossed that it happens, but I don't think many here will be surprised if he doesn't.

The issue I have is that the FD freaked out when Sydney came knocking last year and decided to offer him 3 years when he'd barely been on the park for the previous 2. I wish AVB all the luck in the world, and hope he succeeds, but offering 3 years was the stupidest thing we did last year. Also, I believe Sydney would have offered their 2nd round pick for him off the stellar finals he had.

Edited September 18, 20196 yr by AshleyH30

1 minute ago, AshleyH30 said:

The issue I have is that the FD freaked out when Sydney came knocking last year and decided to offer him 3 years when he'd barely been on the park for the previous 2. I wish AVB all the luck in the world, and hope he succeeds, but offering 3 years was the stupidest thing we did last year. Also, I believe Sydney would have offered their 2nd round pick for him off the stellar finals he had.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, though.  He was fresh off playing his best footy for the club and looked fit.  At the time I think we were all happy to offer him that deal and keep him on board.  He looked to be over the injury and had a terrific finals series.

Of course it's easy to look at the deal in a less than favourable light after he missed all of this season, but the fact he is still just 27 and is seemingly headed in the right direction is a good sign for all involved.  

And what if it happens all over again?  He may well retire like Tim Smith has just done, and therefore we move on from that contract.

I'm going to back him in to be in our side come Round 1 next year.

Got a long way to go to get back to fitness.

As SWYL would say: "It's going to be a telling preseason!"

7 games in 3 years. 

The Swans dodged that one. 

One last chance this Summer

football boots provide barely any protection to the foot, exacerbating any concerns into full on problems.

Hopefully for Vanders and our sake he is over them, or at the very least, they have now become manageable.

All those stiff arms against Geelong, including one to Dom Tyson. Just saying to everyone 'get the [censored] out of my way'.

Still so annoyed that he got injured. He played in the practice match against the Pies on their rock hard ground and put Dayne Beams in to next week. Then had something like 15 tackles at Casey against the Lions shifting on ball after injuries.

If his foot is at least in a stable place then I think there's some chance he makes it back but the management has to be extremely conservative and smart. 

 

1 hour ago, Forest Demon said:

Love Vanders, but unfortunately anything we get out of him from now on will be a bonus imo.

 Very true. In the back of mind I’m always thinking he will break down again at any stage. 

1 hour ago, Forest Demon said:

Love Vanders, but unfortunately anything we get out of him from now on will be a bonus imo.

That's the reality. Same with KK.

If we keep these two I would be reluctant to keep Joel Smith unless the medicos are absolutely certain of his playing ability.

Just too many injury prone players on what is a relatively small list.

30 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

That's the reality. Same with KK.

If we keep these two I would be reluctant to keep Joel Smith unless the medicos are absolutely certain of his playing ability.

Just too many injury prone players on what is a relatively small list.

Couldn't disagree more.

 

1 hour ago, Demon Disciple said:

football boots provide barely any protection to the foot, exacerbating any concerns into full on problems.

 

They were pretty solid in my day (cue violins....)

17 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Couldn't disagree more.

 

 

46 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

That's the reality. Same with KK.

If we keep these two I would be reluctant to keep Joel Smith unless the medicos are absolutely certain of his playing ability.

Just too many injury prone players on what is a relatively small list.

We must keep Smith he will be gr8 as the 3rd tall in forward line. He'd b hard 4 opposition 2 match.

Vanders absolutely dismantled several blokes in both our finals wins last year. More than that, it made me and 45000+21 others stand taller after every tackle.

Ridiculously important player for us.

Great to hear something at last. Go Vanders

3 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

Finally a worthy 'non-puff piece' update from the club.  Most of the prior ones so far have been complete drivel or cringeworthy.

He would be well in the leadership group or Co. Captain by now had he not had such a wretched run of luck.

Absolutely love the way Vanders goes about his training and game day white line efforts.

No coincidence in his return from about Rnd 15 last year and our back half finish.

Imagine a co captaincy of Big M and AVB or a Captain / Vice Captain combo.  I realise there's too much risk and not enough recent runs on the board for this to happen but, had things been different, i feel we would never have seen the horrid drop off this season, even with the same pre-season / injury issues we had.

May the footy gods be with AVB from here on.  If he gets some decent game time in over the next 5 years he could be the difference between a decent bounce back and making finals on a regular basis.

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

Couldn't disagree more.

 

So you’d like a whole team of injured players?