Jump to content

2021 Player Reviews: #22 Aaron Vandenberg

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

VandenBerg’s time at Melbourne came to an abrupt end on the Monday after the grand final when he was informed by the club that it would not be recontracting him going forward. A hard man who always made his presence felt with his tough unrelenting play, his career was dogged by injury and this year managed just four games, including two as the unused sub, as he again struggled with injury.

Date of Birth: 3 March, 1992
Height: 191cm
Weight: 90kg

Games MFC 2021: 4
Career Total: 51

Goals MFC 2021: 0
Career Total: 23

Games CDFC 2021: 4
Goals CDFC 2021: 2

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1
    • Love 1
     

    I'm guessing there's probably an AVB farewell thread somewhere else as well, but will take this oppertunity to thank Vanders as a supporter for standing up and giving us hope as supporter when the team was still on the rise back to competitiveness.

    Really admire that someone who didn't come through the elite junior ranks was able to elevate himself to play AFL footy at the top level and make a real impact (physically and metaphorically speaking).  Had not his body let him down, I think AVB could have been a premership player for the MFC.  Loved his strong marking, bulldozing bursts out of packs, through players and his bone crunching takes and body on body work were something to behold.

    His contribution to our 2018 finals rebirth was probably the pinicle of his career and I think his presence in that series contributed immensely to the belief the team built out of making and performing well in finals as an important stepping stone towards the premiership glory of 2021. 

    Hope AVB looks back fondly and with great pride of his time at the mighty MFC.  Thanks Vanders, you were a ripper!!

  • Quote
    • Like 19
    • Thanks 3
    • Love 2
    55 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

    I'm guessing there's probably an AVB farewell thread somewhere else as well, but will take this oppertunity to thank Vanders as a supporter for standing up and giving us hope as supporter when the team was still on the rise back to competitiveness.

    Really admire that someone who didn't come through the elite junior ranks was able to elevate himself to play AFL footy at the top level and make a real impact (physically and metaphorically speaking).  Had not his body let him down, I think AVB could have been a premership player for the MFC.  Loved his strong marking, bulldozing bursts out of packs, through players and his bone crunching takes and body on body work were something to behold.

    His contribution to our 2018 finals rebirth was probably the pinicle of his career and I think his presence in that series contributed immensely to the belief the team built out of making and performing well in finals as an important stepping stone towards the premiership glory of 2021. 

    Hope AVB looks back fondly and with great pride of his time at the mighty MFC.  Thanks Vanders, you were a ripper!!

    Thanks for writing that comment.Could not agree more.Vanders is a loss.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
     

    He was always one of my favourite players. Never shirked, gave everything he had, terrible luck with injuries.

  • Quote
    • Like 6

    Sadly his body let him down far too often whilst his spirit never did. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
    • Love 1

    Loved AVB strong and tough loved the contest, Aaron’s best year was 2018 he made us walk taller but sadly for him and us his body let him down. Good luck AVB we all admired the way you went about it.💕❤️💙

  • Quote
    • Love 1

    Was great for us in 2018 unfortunately injuries got the better of him.

  • Quote
    • Sad 1

    His come back match in the McGoos late in 2018 was something to behold.  He went out to impact and hurt that day and he/the team never looked back in 2018.  I believe he laid something like 15 Tackles in that comeback match!!?

    Well ok... we hit a brick wall in the PF but anyway.  Was the best we'd seen in a long time and helped set the tone for the level of commitment required to get to the top.

    Could have left earlier to pursue NSW interests but stuck at it like a true pro and gave his all every time he pulled on the Red & Blue.

    Part of the winning culture that got us to where we are now.  Well done Mr Vanders and ty for all your sweat & toil over the years. 

    Edited by Demon Dynasty

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Love 1
     
    On 10/23/2021 at 5:05 PM, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

    I'm guessing there's probably an AVB farewell thread somewhere else as well, but will take this oppertunity to thank Vanders as a supporter for standing up and giving us hope as supporter when the team was still on the rise back to competitiveness.

    Really admire that someone who didn't come through the elite junior ranks was able to elevate himself to play AFL footy at the top level and make a real impact (physically and metaphorically speaking).  Had not his body let him down, I think AVB could have been a premership player for the MFC.  Loved his strong marking, bulldozing bursts out of packs, through players and his bone crunching takes and body on body work were something to behold.

    His contribution to our 2018 finals rebirth was probably the pinicle of his career and I think his presence in that series contributed immensely to the belief the team built out of making and performing well in finals as an important stepping stone towards the premiership glory of 2021. 

    Hope AVB looks back fondly and with great pride of his time at the mighty MFC.  Thanks Vanders, you were a ripper!!

    Good summary’Balls’. Vanders had a good career severely curtailed by injury and perhaps, the emergence of a couple of superstars on our list at just the wrong time for him.  

    It would be very hard to find a Dees supporter who is not full of admiration for the way Aaron played the game, and his contribution to our Club over his short career …………….. and there’s very good reason for that!

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Demonland unpinned this topic
    • 3 weeks later...

    4 hours ago, Demonstone said:

    It's being reported that Vanders has signed with Old Xaverians in the VAFA.

    I would assume that he would have a clause that releases him from that deal should an AFL club draft him.

    This article refers to him as a West Australian (!!).

    https://www.zerohanger.com/former-demons-midfielder-finds-new-home-in-local-footy-move-94449/

    He came to Melbourne from Canberra and at one stage was set to go to Sydney because he was supposed to have family there. 

  • Quote
    4 hours ago, Demonstone said:

    I would assume that he would have a clause that releases him from that deal should an AFL club draft him.

    Article in the HS said that he’s decided to focus on his career rather than chase a spot at another AFL club. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    4 hours ago, Demonstone said:

    It's being reported that Vanders has signed with Old Xaverians in the VAFA.

    I would assume that he would have a clause that releases him from that deal should an AFL club draft him.

    This article refers to him as a West Australian (!!).

    https://www.zerohanger.com/former-demons-midfielder-finds-new-home-in-local-footy-move-94449/

    AVB has his sights set on the Corporate world of Finance & Investment and the move to Old Xavs is tied in with a great, long term appointment at PWC.  A lot smarter than he looks is AVB and he knocked back 3 strong approaches of 1 year contracts with very reasonable extension triggers to commence his Corporate career.  

  • Quote
    • Like 5
    • Thanks 2
    • Love 1
    11 hours ago, goodwindees said:

    AVB has his sights set on the Corporate world of Finance & Investment and the move to Old Xavs is tied in with a great, long term appointment at PWC.  A lot smarter than he looks is AVB and he knocked back 3 strong approaches of 1 year contracts with very reasonable extension triggers to commence his Corporate career.  

    Good Luck AVB and thanks for your efforts at our Club we greatly appreciate your heart and soul footy  despite all your injuries. 

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • GAMEDAY: Richmond

      It's Game Day and the Demons return to the MCG to face the Tigers in their annual Blockbuster on ANZAC Eve for the 10th time. The Dees will be desperate to reignite their stuttering 2025 campaign and claim just their second win of the season. Can the Demons dig deep and find that ANZAC Spirit to snatch back to back wins?

      • 1 reply
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: Richmond

      A few years ago, the Melbourne Football Club produced a documentary about the decade in which it rose from its dystopic purgatory of regular thrashings to the euphoria of a premiership victory. That entire period could have been compressed in a fast motion version of the 2025 season to date as the Demons went from embarrassing basket case to glorious winner in an unexpected victory over the Dockers last Saturday. They transformed in a single week from a team that put in a pedestrian effort of predictably kicking the ball long down the line into attack that made a very ordinary Bombers outfit look like worldbeaters into a slick, fast moving side with urgency and a willingness to handball and create play with shorter kicks and by changing angles to generate an element of chaos that yielded six goals in each of the opening quarters against Freo. 

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 07

      Round 7 gets underway in iconic fashion with the traditional ANZAC Day blockbuster. The high-flying Magpies will be looking to solidify their spot atop the ladder, while the Bombers are desperate for a win to stay in touch with the top eight. Later that evening, Fremantle will be out to redeem themselves after a disappointing loss to the Demons, facing a hungry Adelaide side with eyes firmly set on breaking into the top four. Saturday serves up a triple-header of footy action. The Lions will be looking to consolidate their Top 2 spot as they head to Marvel Stadium to clash with the Saints. Over in Adelaide, Port Adelaide will be strong favourites at home against a struggling North Melbourne. The day wraps up with a fiery encounter in Canberra, where the Giants and Bulldogs renew their bitter rivalry. Sunday’s schedule kicks off with the Suns aiming to bounce back from their shock defeat to Richmond, taking on the out of form Swans.Then the Blues will be out to claim a major scalp when they battle the Cats at the MCG. The round finishes with a less-than-thrilling affair between Hawthorn and West Coast at Marvel. Who are you tipping and what are the best results for the Demons?

      • 3 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Fremantle

      For this year’s Easter Saturday game at the MCG, Simon Goodwin and his Demons wound the clock back a few years to wipe out the horrible memories of last season’s twin thrashings at the hands of the Dockers. And it was about time! Melbourne’s indomitable skipper Max Gawn put in a mammoth performance in shutting out his immediate opponent Sean Darcy in the ruck and around the ground and was a colossus at the end when the game was there to be won or lost. It was won by 16.11.107 to 14.13.97. There was the battery-charged Easter Bunny in Kysaiah Pickett running anyone wearing purple ragged, whether at midfield stoppages or around the big sticks. He finish with a five goal haul.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: UWS Giants

      The Casey Demons took on an undefeated UWS Giants outfit at their own home ground on a beautiful autumn day but found themselves completely out of their depth going down by 53 points against a well-drilled and fair superior combination. Despite having 15 AFL listed players at their disposal - far more than in their earlier matches this season - the Demons were never really in the game and suffered their second defeat in a row after their bright start to the season when they drew with the Kangaroos, beat the Suns and matched the Cats for most of the day on their own dung heap at Corio Bay. The Giants were a different proposition altogether. They had a very slight wind advantage in the opening quarter but were too quick off the mark for the Demons, tearing the game apart by the half way mark of the term when they kicked the first five goals with clean and direct football.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Richmond

      The Dees are back at the MCG on Thursday for the annual blockbuster ANZAC Eve game against the Tigers. Can the Demons win back to back games for the first time since Rounds 17 & 18 last season? Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 262 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All