Aaron vandenBerg
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Aaron vandenBerg
| image = Aaron vandenBerg 2018.9.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = vandenBerg training with Melbourne in April 2018
| fullname = Aaron vandenBerg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|03|03|df=y}}
| birth_place = Perth, Western Australia{{Cite news|title=Melbourne recruit Aaron vandenBerg to make his presence felt on biggest stage of them all|first=Sam|last=Landsberger|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-recruit-aaron-vandenberg-to-make-his-presence-felt-on-biggest-stage-of-them-all/story-fni5f91a-1227290564556|accessdate=11 April 2015|work=Herald Sun|publisher=News Corp Australia|date=3 April 2015}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = Ainslie (NEAFL)
| draftpick = No. 2, 2015 rookie draft
| debutdate = Round 1, 2015
| debutteam = {{AFL Mel}}
| debutopponent = {{AFL GC}}
| debutstadium = MCG
| height = 188 cm
| weight = 90 kg
| position = Midfielder / forward
| years1 = 2015–2021
| club1 = {{AFL Mel}}
| games_goals1 = 47 (23)
| statsend = round 15, 2021
| careerhighlights =
| nickname = Richie
}}
Aaron vandenBerg (born 3 March 1992) is a professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A midfielder, {{convert|1.88|m|ftin}} tall and weighing {{convert|90|kg}}, vandenBerg has the ability to contribute as both an inside and outside midfielder, whilst also pushing into the forward line. After missing out on the draft at eighteen years of age, vandenBerg played in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) with the Ainslie Football Club where he won two best and fairest awards and was twice named in the NEAFL team of the year. His performances in the NEAFL saw him recruited by the Melbourne Football Club with the second selection in the 2015 rookie draft and he made his AFL debut in the opening round of the 2015 season.
Early life
Originally from Western Australia, vandenBerg moved to Tathra, New South Wales with his family at ten-years of age where he played junior football with the Tathra Football Club.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richie-the-freshly-minted-demon-20150424-1msxbz.html|title=Richie, the freshly minted Demon|last=Gleeson|first=Michael|date=25 April 2015|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|accessdate=12 August 2015}} He was first noticed as a potential AFL player in 2007 by then-{{AFL Col}} recruiter, Jason Taylor,{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-demons-pick-ainslies-aaron-vandenberg-in-afl-rookie-draft-20141203-11z2vc.html|title=Melbourne Demons pick Ainslie's Aaron Vandenberg in AFL rookie draft|last=Polkinghorne|first=David|date=3 December 2014|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|accessdate=12 August 2015}} however he was not drafted due to lacking "the drive to be an AFL footballer." He moved to Canberra in 2011 to join {{NEAFL Ain}} in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL), where he won the eastern conference premiership in his first year, and back-to-back Hibberson Cup Trophies as the club best and fairest player in 2013 and 2014. In addition, he was named in the NEAFL team of the year on the wing and as the ruck rover in 2013 and 2014 respectively.{{cite news|url=http://www.neafl.com.au/index.php?id=110|title=Team of the Year|work=NEAFL.com.au|publisher=Fox Sports Pulse|accessdate=9 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009124945/http://www.neafl.com.au/index.php?id=110|archive-date=9 October 2015|url-status=dead}} During 2014, he amassed fifty-six disposals in a match against Eastlake, which contributed to him being recognised as a high-disposal winner and put him back on the AFL radar.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-12-03/demons-grab-neafl-star-vandenberg|title=Demons couldn't resist huge NEAFL numbers|last=Ryan|first=Peter|date=3 December 2014|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=12 August 2015}} Then at {{AFL Mel}}, Jason Taylor and the club decided to recruit him in December 2014. Whilst living in Canberra, he was completing a four-year apprenticeship at the Royal Australian Mint, but ended it after two and a half years to move to Melbourne.{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-12-08/vandenberg-a-mint-investment|title=Vandenberg a mint investment|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=8 December 2014|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=12 August 2015}}
AFL career
File:Aaron Vandenberg 18.02.17.jpg
VandenBerg was drafted by the Melbourne Football Club with their first selection and second overall in the 2015 rookie draft.{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-12-03/rookie-draft-pick-2 |title=Vandenberg claimed at No.2 |last=Burgan |first=Matt |date=3 December 2014 |work=MelbourneFC.com.au |publisher=Bigpond |accessdate=12 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714164410/http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2014-12-03/rookie-draft-pick-2 |archivedate=14 July 2015 |df=dmy }} After a shoulder reconstruction at the end of 2014, Melbourne football operations manager, Josh Mahoney, stated vandenBerg was "exceeding expectations"{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-demons-say-aaron-vandenberg-on-track-to-be-longterm-afl-player-20150409-1mi1cr.html|title=Melbourne Demons say Aaron vandenBerg on track to be long-term AFL player|last=Polkinghorne|first=David|date=10 April 2015|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|accessdate=12 August 2015}} and he made his debut in the 2015 opening round with a 26-point win against {{AFL GC}} at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.{{Cite news|title=Former Ainslie midfielder Aaron Vandenberg makes AFL debut with Melbourne Demons against Gold Coast Suns|first=Lee|last=Gaskin|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/melbourne-demons/former-ainslie-midfielder-aaron-vandenberg-makes-afl-debut-with-melbourne-demons-against-gold-coast-suns-20150403-1mdzv2.html|accessdate=11 April 2015|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=3 April 2015}} He was named in the best players for Melbourne and recorded seventeen disposals, four marks and a goal.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2015/1/melb-v-gcfc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327004819/http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2015/1/melb-v-gcfc|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 March 2015|title=Opening round Dee-light as Melbourne stuns Gold Coast|last=Schmook|first=Nathan|date=4 April 2015|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=13 August 2016}} Lauded for his tenacity and ability to win the contested ball,{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-06-05/freshly-minted-demon-aaron-vandenberg-an-instant-hit|title=Freshly minted Demon Aaron vandenBerg an instant hit|last=Guthrie|first=Ben|date=5 June 2015|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=21 August 2015}} he played the first ten matches of the year before suffering a hamstring strain in the annual Queen's Birthday clash against {{AFL Col}}.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-demons-colin-garland-and-aaron-vandenberg-suffer-injuries-20150611-ghlc8v.html|title=Melbourne Demons Colin Garland and Aaron vandenBerg suffer injuries|last=Lerner|first=Ronny|date=11 June 2015|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|accessdate=21 August 2015}} He returned to the side in round fifteen against {{AFL Ess}},{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-07-09/melbourne-makes-four-changes|title=Melbourne makes four changes|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=9 July 2015|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=21 August 2015}} and he played the next four matches before injuring his ankle in August;{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/aaron-vandenberg-could-miss-rest-of-season-with-ankle-injury/story-fni5f91a-1227479258537|title=Aaron vandenBerg could miss rest of season with ankle injury|date=11 August 2015|work=Herald Sun|publisher=News Corp Australia|accessdate=21 August 2015}} he was then ruled out for the rest of the season after playing 14 matches in his debut season.{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-08-18/salem-available-to-play-this-week|title=Salem available to play this week|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=18 August 2015|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=21 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925060819/http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-08-18/salem-available-to-play-this-week|archive-date=25 September 2015|url-status=dead}} After signing a contract extension until the end of the 2017 season, he was promoted from the rookie list to the senior list for the 2016 season onward.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-09/demons-rookie-vandeberg-signs-new-twoyear-deal|title=Demons rookie vandenBerg signs two-year deal|last=Ryan|first=Peter|date=9 July 2015|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=9 November 2016}}
Despite suffering from an ankle injury during the 2016 pre-season,{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/demon-saint-and-a-giant-facing-secondyear-afl-yips-20160319-gnma7s.html|title=Demon, Saint and a Giant not worried about second-year AFL 'yips'|last=Polkinghorne|first=David|date=25 March 2016|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|accessdate=9 November 2016}} vandenBerg played the start of the season in the senior side.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/footy-form/afl-teams-full-squads-for-round-1/news-story/410f151d56cc4cba8ebcb4a18b7b7918|title=AFL teams: Full squads for Round 1|date=25 March 2016|work=Herald Sun|publisher=News Corp Australia|accessdate=9 November 2016}} He played in the first three matches of the season before re-aggravating his ankle injury, and he was forced to miss a month of football.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-21/ankle-injury-sidelines-demon-aaron-vandenberg-for-a-month|title=Ankle injury sidelines hard-working Demon for a month|last=Guthrie|first=Ben|date=21 April 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=9 November 2016}} He made his return to football in the Victorian Football League (VFL), playing for Melbourne's affiliate team, the Casey Scorpions.{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-06-16/aaron-forced-to-manage-ankle-issue|title=Aaron forced to manage ankle issue|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=16 June 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=9 November 2016}} He returned to the senior side for the 18-point loss against {{AFL Haw}} at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Round 11.{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-06-02/round-11-teams-the-ins-and-outs|title=Round 11 teams: the ins and outs|last=Twomey|first=Callum|date=2 June 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=9 November 2016}} He played the next five matches before missing the round eighteen match against {{AFL WC}} at Domain Stadium due to a hip injury.{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-07-21/team-selection-round-18|title=Four changes for clash in the west|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=21 July 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=9 November 2016}} He returned the next week for the two-point win against Gold Coast at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where he kicked a career-high three goals and was named in Melbourne's best.{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-07-28/three-added-to-the-squad|title=Three added to the squad|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=28 July 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|accessdate=9 November 2016}} He played the remainder of the season to finish with fourteen games.
Statistics
{{AFL player statistics legend}}
{{AFL player statistics start with votes}}
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2015
|{{AFL Mel}}
| 37 || 14 || 5 || 12 || 143 || 92 || 235 || 44 || 70 || 0.4 || 0.9 || 10.2 || 6.6 || 16.8 || 3.1 || 5.0 || 3
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2016
|{{AFL Mel}}
| 37 || 14 || 12 || 9 || 80 || 125 || 205 || 43 || 50 || 0.9 || 0.8 || 5.7 || 8.9 || 14.6 || 3.1 || 3.6 || 0
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2017
|{{AFL Mel}}
| 22 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || 0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2018
|{{AFL Mel}}
| 22 || 7 || 5 || 6 || 61 || 50 || 111 || 30 || 22 || 0.7 || 0.9 || 8.7 || 7.1 || 15.9 || 4.3 || 3.1 || 0
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2019
|{{AFL Mel}}
| 22 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || 0
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2020{{efn|The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.}}
|{{AFL Mel}}
| 22 || 12 || 1 || 1 || 73 || 69 || 142 || 34 || 31 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 6.1 || 5.8 || 11.8 || 2.8 || 2.6 || 0
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2021{{efn|Statistics include two games in which vandenBerg was an unused medical substitute (rounds 16 and 22) and one game in which he was used as a medical substitute (round 21).}}
|{{AFL Mel}}
| 22 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 18 || 9 || 27 || 3 || 8 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 4.5 || 2.3 || 6.8 || 0.8 || 2.0 || 0
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 51
! 23
! 28
! 375
! 345
! 720
! 154
! 181
! 0.5
! 0.5
! 7.4
! 6.8
! 14.1
! 3.0
! 3.5
! 3
|}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commonscat}}
- {{Melbplayer| link = aaron-vandenberg}}
- {{AFL Tables|ref=A/Aaron_Vandenberg.html}}
- [http://demonwiki.org/tiki-index.php?page=Aaron+vandenBerg Aaron vandenBerg's profile] from Demonwiki
{{2015 AFL rookie draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:vandenBerg, Aaron}}
Category:Australian rules footballers from the Australian Capital Territory
Category:Melbourne Football Club players
Category:Ainslie Football Club players