Richie Vandenberg
Encyclopedia
Richard "Richie" Vandenberg (born 14 January 1977) was an Australian Rules Football
er who played for the Hawthorn Football Club
in the Australian Football League
. He was the captain of the Hawks
for the final three years of his career 2005 -2007.
He was selected with pick 78 in the 1997 AFL Draft
.
Vandenberg is of Dutch
descent. Growing up near Wentworth, New South Wales
, a small town near Mildura just on the northern side of the Murray river in far western new south wales he played junior football for the local club. He moved to Melbourne to study at the University of Melbourne
in 1995, playing with the University Blues
where he attracted the attention of Hawthorn recruiters.
Vandenberg had his best seasons in 2000 and 2001. He was made captain when Shane Crawford
stepped down for the 2005 season. He struggled to recapture his best form, but in 2006 fitted into his new role more solidy. On September 4, 2007 Vandenberg officially announced his retirement in a press conference.
Vandenberg is a solidly built player with a reputation for aggressive play, fronting the AFL Tribunal
on many occasions (his most recent being a 4-week suspension in 2006). In 2004 he was involved in the 'Line in the Sand'
incident, when former AFL star Dermott Brereton
allegedly told the players to make a physical stand. As a result of he was suspended for 6 games.
Vandenberg retired at the end of the 2007 season after leading the Hawks to their most successful campaign since 2001.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. He was the captain of the Hawks
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
for the final three years of his career 2005 -2007.
He was selected with pick 78 in the 1997 AFL Draft
1997 AFL Draft
The 1997 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1997 Australian Football League season. A pre-season draft was also held prior to the 1998 season....
.
Vandenberg is of Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
descent. Growing up near Wentworth, New South Wales
Wentworth, New South Wales
Wentworth is a small border town in the far south west of the state of New South Wales, Australia. It lies at the confluence of Australia's two most important rivers, the Darling and the Murray, the latter forming the border with the state of Victoria to the south. The border with the state of...
, a small town near Mildura just on the northern side of the Murray river in far western new south wales he played junior football for the local club. He moved to Melbourne to study at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
in 1995, playing with the University Blues
Melbourne University Football Club
Melbourne University Football Club, often known simply as University is an Australian rules football club.The club achieved prominence by being a member of the game's most elite competition in the early 20th century, the Victorian Football League between 1908 and 1914.Although there are no records...
where he attracted the attention of Hawthorn recruiters.
Vandenberg had his best seasons in 2000 and 2001. He was made captain when Shane Crawford
Shane Crawford
Shane Barry Crawford is a former Australian rules footballer, having played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League...
stepped down for the 2005 season. He struggled to recapture his best form, but in 2006 fitted into his new role more solidy. On September 4, 2007 Vandenberg officially announced his retirement in a press conference.
Vandenberg is a solidly built player with a reputation for aggressive play, fronting the AFL Tribunal
AFL Tribunal
The AFL Tribunal is the disciplinary tribunal of the Australian Football League .-Points system:Source: AFL Tribunal 2011 Guidebook...
on many occasions (his most recent being a 4-week suspension in 2006). In 2004 he was involved in the 'Line in the Sand'
Line in the Sand Match
Line in the Sand match is the unofficial title of the infamous Round 11, 2004 match between Australian football clubs ' and ' played at the MCG on Saturday, 5 June 2004....
incident, when former AFL star Dermott Brereton
Dermott Brereton
Dermott Hugh Brereton is a former Australian rules football player in the Australian Football League, regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation. Of Irish descent , he is known for his aggressive style of play. Brereton kicked 464 goals and played in five Premierships for during...
allegedly told the players to make a physical stand. As a result of he was suspended for 6 games.
Vandenberg retired at the end of the 2007 season after leading the Hawks to their most successful campaign since 2001.