Remove this Banner Ad

#7 - Nathan van Berlo

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

NikkiNoo

NikkiNoo

Premium Platinum
Veteran 10k Posts Podcaster Ex-Moderator
Feb 3, 2004
17,999
24,204
in a happy place
AFL Club
Adelaide
Other Teams
panthers, ukraine & broncos
(courtesy of Southerntakeover)​

vbjpeg.jpg

Nathan van Berlo
Height: 184 cm
Weight: 83 kg
DOB: 06/06/1986
Recruited From: West Perth (WA)
SANFL Club: South Adelaide
Career Matches: 53
Awards:
AFC Emerging Talent 2005
Mark Bickley Medallist 2006

Bio: Ever since he beat Simon Goodwin at his own 'Goodwin run' in his first preseason at the Crows Nathan van Berlo has been one to watch. In just his third season at the Crows, van Berlo has already played over 50 games, a feat unmatched in recent times. Yet even with this fast tracked development, van Berlo's games fast rising games tally pales in comparison to his popularity.

Armed with his obvious impressive athletic prowess, and an intelligence so powerful it could edit a Rucci article until it's readable, van Berlo has seen his following grow to epic proportions. At last count, van Berloism can claim more followers than smaller cults, such as the Vatican. Those who refuse to humble themselves find themselves crushed under the power of Our Lord and Saviour. There's no greater example than Anthony Rocca, who foolishly attempted to take out the Great Man, with similiar success to a school kid trying to knock a Stobey Pole down on a push bike.

On field, van Berlo is fast cementing his place as the future of the Adelaide midfield. In 2007 van Berlo demonstrated that he has more to offer than just his aerobic capacity for tagging roles. van Berlo has begun to unveil a more attacking side to his game, including a 24 possession 2 goal game against eventual premier Geelong in Round 11. What cant be doubted is his on field courage and determination, for example throwing himself infront of a rampaging Mal Michael to save a game at the Gabba, it is this quality which has seen vB touted as a future captain of the AFC.

Edit: Added photo from my personal archive.
 
You can't say nothing bad about Van Berlo. Defiently the future captain of the Adelaide Crows, wether it be next season or 2-3 seasons down the track. At some stage this kid is going to be captain of the Crows.
 
hayden sumner said:
You can't say nothing bad about Van Berlo. Defiently the future captain of the Adelaide Crows, wether it be next season or 2-3 seasons down the track. At some stage this kid is going to be captain of the Crows.
Click to expand...

Captain/coach/CEO.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

2008 vB slogan to coincide with him taking the next step up in his game to some sort of immersuarable football god. Take note Viccrow

"You got van Berlobliterated."

Toyota should put this as a bumper sticker on their cars and watch their sales sky rocket.
Teenagers everywhere will trade in their skylines and commodores for Toyota Camry's.

Ahh its posts like this that warrents my sig
 
he is the most down to earth player i have ever met and he will make a great captain if it is in 2 years 3 years or longer he is a keeper!!!!! he plays Vantastic!!!!!
 
sammy g said:
he is the most down to earth player i have ever met and he will make a great captain if it is in 2 years 3 years or longer he is a keeper!!!!! he plays Vantastic!!!!!
Click to expand...

I would also like to see van Berlo in the role of goal keeper.

With his 'above the goal post when hopping' vertical leap, and his 'faster than lighting and will strike twice' reflexes, i dont see an opposition player getting one through the big sticks with vB on the watch.
 
Southerntakeover said:
I would also like to see van Berlo in the role of goal keeper.

With his 'above the goal post when hopping' vertical leap, and his 'faster than lighting and will strike twice' reflexes, i dont see an opposition player getting one through the big sticks with vB on the watch.
Click to expand...

he is a great player and in 08 he will develop in ways that no other player has done before he will change the record books!!!!!
 
That goal he kicked in the Hawthorn final was gunnish. The thing is I want to see him step up and take games by the throat in 2008 sometimes. We know his an athletic freak in terms of his capacity to run...you think of similarly fit players like Cousins. While he may never make it as that sort of elite player, I want to see him use his running ability to full effect.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Southerntakeover said:
Welcome to the leadership group Mr. van Berlo sir.

Another clear indication that this is our future captain.
Click to expand...

Couldn't be a clearer message, could it. :thumbsu:

Rutten obviously won't captain the side, because IMO if he was ever going to be appointed as captain, it would have been now.

Burton, Bassett and Edwards are all too old to consider once Goody retires from the captaincy.

VB is the captain in waiting - you can bet Stiffy_18's left knacker on that. :thumbsu: :)
 
Again I want to see him put his aerobic capacity to use on the field. It's all well and good to win the time trials but gut busting running a la Cousins is worth its weight in gold. If VB can produce that sort of running it will go a long way towards us playing finals next year.
 
fightingdreamer88 said:
Again I want to see him put his aerobic capacity to use on the field. It's all well and good to win the time trials but gut busting running a la Cousins is worth its weight in gold. If VB can produce that sort of running it will go a long way towards us playing finals next year.
Click to expand...


Agreed. He's been toweled up a few times over the last 2 years. We all remember that Prelim but Bartell also gave him a spanking down at Geelong this year.

The good thing is, he seems to have plenty of ticker and enormously coachable. He will get there, I have no doubt.:thumbsu:
 
Ticktak said:
Agreed. He's been toweled up a few times over the last 2 years. We all remember that Prelim but Bartell also gave him a spanking down at Geelong this year.

The good thing is, he seems to have plenty of ticker and enormously coachable. He will get there, I have no doubt.:thumbsu:
Click to expand...
so he has been beaten by 2 brownlow medallists?

Not bad players to lower your colours too
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

VB's can-do attitude

11:17 AM Tue 8 January, 2008 | Back

By Katrina Gill

for afc.com.au
News

HE’S BEEN described by some of his teammates as a “natural-born leader”, but Nathan van Berlo admits his inclusion in the Crows’ 2008 leadership group came as “a bit of a surprise”.

Van Berlo, 21, and entering just his fourth year at the club, received overwhelming support from his peers last month when he was elected into the six-man leadership group.

The hard-running midfielder is the youngest-ever player to be initiated into the group since Adelaide introduced the new leadership program in 2004.

“It did come as a bit of a surprise,” van Berlo said of his new role.

“You never sort of expect these things to happen, but at the same time, its great recognition of the hard work I’ve done on that side of my game.

“I’m really excited, as are the rest of the guys in the leadership group, with what lies ahead for us and, personally, the chance to further develop my leadership skills.”

Van Berlo’s appointment comes in what will be a transitional phase for the Crows after the departure of 10 senior players during the off-season.

But coach Neil Craig said van Berlo was selected on his leadership merits rather than as a token “young” face for the rejuvenated squad.

“I think the important thing to remember with Nathan is that age is not a consideration in terms of who gets into the leadership group,” Craig said.

“I’m not one for the senior leadership group to say, ‘Hey, we need a young player in here’. What we do need is players in that group that can actually contribute to the leadership of our club and whether that’s a 30 or a 20-year-old doesn’t worry me.”

Van Berlo, despite having played a little more than 50 games, has already been touted as a future captain of the club.

The level headed West Australian is the first to admit he’s still got work to do before he’s ready for such a responsibility, but sees his new role as a “step forward in that right direction.

“You’d be crazy not to aspire to be the captain of your club,” van Berlo said.

“I see this as a chance to further develop my leadership skills, but I think any player in the AFL would tell you they’d love to lead their club at some stage in their career.”

Van Berlo’s teammate and soon-to be housemate, Bernie Vince, has no doubt VB’s captaincy dreams will come true.

“I wasn’t here in VB’s first year, but ever since I’ve been at the club, I could just tell he had that leadership quality,” Vince said.

“It’s hard to pinpoint what it is, but he just seems to have that knack of being a natural leader and relating well to everyone. I certainly see him leading the club at some stage down the track.”

Apart from compulsory attendance at leadership meetings on Monday mornings and a more hands-on role with the younger players, van Berlo says his approach to footy won’t change.

He still sees himself as a young, developing player who isn’t afraid to ask his older teammates and fellow leaders for advice.

“I think there are a lot of areas I can still develop in, but particularly last year, I seemed to be a bit inconsistent in games and lacking an overall impact,” van Berlo said.

“Hopefully I can continue to develop those areas and learn some more strategies to use in games by sounding out the likes of Goody [Goodwin] and Tyson Edwards, who play in the midfield and always do it well.

“I’m hoping that I’ll develop, as will the younger guys, because we certainly need to take the heat off the senior guys, who have been around a long time now, and start to put our own stamp on the game.”
 
14 touches and a goal against Freo in the second round of the NAB cup.

Its pretty obvious at the moment that vB is being held back for the season proper, especially given he only saw about 65% of gametime.

Also interesting to note that hes frequently being billed as the crows 'vice captain' in the paper.
 
Southerntakeover said:
Also interesting to note that hes frequently being billed as the crows 'vice captain' in the paper.
Click to expand...
Hmmm...

Mixed feelings. Love the idea of VB being VC but I could write that technical inaccuracy on used piece of toilet paper and it would have more credibility.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

#7 - Nathan van Berlo

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top