Follow along every Tuesday, as we celebrate Hawthorn champions, past and present...

Originally from southern New South Wales, Vandenberg was recruited from the University Blues after moving down to study at the University of Melbourne.

Taken late in the 1997 draft at Pick 78, Vandenberg would become one of the Hawks’ great draft steals.

While he made his debut against Port Adelaide in his first year at the club, it was the 2000 season when Vandenberg began to make a name for himself as a tough midfielder.

Playing fifteen games that season, including a then career-high 28-disposal effort against the Crows, Vandenberg averaged more than 15 disposals a game but wouldn’t play past Round 19, missing the club’s finals campaign.

The same wouldn’t happen the following year, as the 178cm midfielder played in all three of the Hawks’ finals, with an important 20-disposal performance coming in the narrow semi-final win over Port Adelaide.

The number 21 enjoyed his statistically-best season in 2002, averaging almost 18 disposals a game and kicking a career-high 18 goals, but it wasn’t until late 2004 that Vandenberg would receive his highest accolade.

After Shane Crawford relinquished the captaincy, it was Vandenberg who was chosen by newly-installed coach Alastair Clarkson as the club’s newest skipper.

Despite leading the club back to finals action in 2007, Vandenberg’s year was riddled by injury as he managed only eight games, before consequently calling time on his 145-game career at season’s end – just 12 months shy of a Hawthorn Premiership.

Catch up: Champion Tuesday - Chris Langford

Best Performance

34 disposals, four marks, seven tackles v St Kilda, Round 13 2002

Best Venue

MCG - played 65 games, averaged 16.08 disposals, kicked 30 goals

Best Opponent

St Kilda – met six times, averaged 20 disposals, kicked four goals