Nathan van Berlo

Nathan van Berlo (born 6 June 1986) is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted by the club with pick 24 in the 2004 National Draft. He was the captain of the Adelaide Football Club from 2011 until 2014.[1][2] His younger brother, Jay van Berlo, played 32 matches in four years for Fremantle.[3] Van Berlo has Dutch heritage, and his parents were born in New Zealand.[4]

Nathan van Berlo
Personal information
Full name Nathan van Berlo
Nickname(s) VB
Date of birth (1986-06-06) 6 June 1986
Place of birth Perth, Western Australia
Original team(s) Whitford
West Perth (WAFL)
Draft No. 24, 2004 National Draft, Adelaide
Debut Round 3, 2005, Adelaide vs. Port Adelaide, at AAMI Stadium
Height 184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 83 kg (13 st 1 lb; 183 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder, tagger, small defender
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2005–2016 Adelaide 205 (68)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2016.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

AFL career

Van Berlo made his debut in 2005 aged just 18, playing 11 games in the season and averaging just over seven disposals a game. He became a regular the following season, missing five matches due to a broken collarbone but returning to play out the season. In 2007, van Berlo cemented a place in the starting 22, averaging 19 disposals per game and coming equal seventh in the club Best and Fairest. By this stage, van Berlo was a regular performer in Adelaide's young midfield noted for his high fitness level.

After the retirement of Simon Goodwin, at the end of the 2010 season, van Berlo was selected to become the captain of the club from the 2011 season.[1] He performed solidly in his first year as captain, finishing second in the Malcolm Blight Medal playing in defence and in the midfield.[5]

In 2012, van Berlo spent most of the season as a tagger, laying more tackles than anyone else at the club while also still ranking fifth at Adelaide for total disposals. He reprised this role in 2013, shutting down some of the competition's most dangerous players such as Brent Harvey and Stephen Hill.[5] He also re-signed with Adelaide until the end of 2016 during the year.[6]

Van Berlo ruptured his right Achilles tendon in a freak training accident prior to the 2014 season.[7] This meant he missed the entire season, although he came close to making a miraculous return in the last few weeks of the season.[5] In January 2015, van Berlo was replaced as captain by Taylor Walker.[2]

After indifferent form following his return in 2015, van Berlo was dropped for the round 16 clash with Port Adelaide.[8] He later regained his place in the side and played his 200th match in round 23 against Geelong.[5]

In September 2016, he announced his immediate retirement from the AFL.[9]

Statistics
[10]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2005 Adelaide 7111244287220110.10.24.02.66.61.81.0
2006 Adelaide 7195514311025358440.30.37.55.813.33.12.3
2007 Adelaide 72371221921543498750.30.59.59.418.94.33.3
2008 Adelaide 723812234251485110830.40.510.210.921.14.83.6
2009 Adelaide 72155164292456104610.20.27.813.921.75.02.9
2010 Adelaide 71954182205387110620.30.29.610.820.45.83.3
2011 Adelaide 7221212282236518126760.60.612.810.723.65.73.5
2012 Adelaide 72513112931624551051260.50.411.76.518.24.25.0
2013 Adelaide 7198920911432369620.40.511.06.017.03.63.3
2015 Adelaide 7204618711930679740.20.39.46.015.34.03.7
2016 Adelaide 7301231336980.00.37.74.312.03.02.7
Career 205 68 79 1980 1745 3725 888 682 0.3 0.4 9.7 8.5 18.2 4.3 3.3

References
  1. Paton, Al (8 December 2010). "Nathan van Berlo to captain Adelaide Crows". Herald Sun.
  2. Thring, Harry; Roman, Tim (14 January 2015). "Crows name Tex Walker as captain". AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  3. Washbourne, Michael (18 September 2012). "Fremantle Dockers cut Jay van Berlo and rookie pair". PerthNow.
  4. van Berlo, Nathan (10 July 2013). "Skipper VB's Kiwi origins". AFC.com.au. Adelaide Football Club. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  5. "Nathan van Berlo - AFC.com.au". AFC.com.au. Adelaide Football Club.
  6. "Van Berlo re-signs, slams Tippett over contract saga". The Age. 18 March 2013.
  7. Morgan, Kym (15 January 2014). "Crows captain Nathan van Berlo's ruptured Achilles tendon likely a freak accident, club says". The Advertiser.
  8. Rucci, Michaelangelo (16 July 2015). "Adelaide Crows drop Nathan Van Berlo for Showdown with Port Adelaide". The Advertiser.
  9. "van Berlo bows out". AFC.com.au. Bigpond. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  10. "Nathan van Berlo". AFL Tables.
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