Andrew Vanderfeen was a real football journey man. But he has other sporting talents which include Golf and Basketball - in fact in his younger days he was a state representative at Basketball.
He started his football career at Ulverstone in the North West Coast and was one of the youngest players to play senior football in Tassy. He was fifteen when he ran onto West Park in 1971 under the guidance of the late John Coghlan - a former state politician.
"Van" as he became affectionately known went to Melbourne under the sponsorship of St Kilda and played for 3 years in the Victorian Federal League with HYATT.
In 1975 he tried his luck with Port Adelaide under John Cahill before returning to Ulverstone to play in their 1976 premiership. The next year he won the club Best & Fairest before travelling to South Fremantle in 1979 to play under Mal Brown. Things didn't work out and Van returned to Tassy and was persuaded by Noel Leary to play for Clarence. This move did work out and at Clarence he was instrumental in both their 1979 and 1981 premiership sides.
Who will ever forget his titanic struggles with one of the hardest backmen in Tasmanian Football - Glenorchy's
Robert "Slugger" Dykes.
Vanderfeen left Clarence in 1983 to coach in Wagga, New South Wales. It was here he met his wife of 15 years - Louise
Two years later he returned to his home town Ulverstone to play in their 1986 & 87 premiership teams before retiring. He has since made cameo appearances with West Ulverstone under former Clarence team mate
David "Moose"
Lewis.
Recently "Van" turned his hand to politics being an unsuccessful candidate for the legislative Council in 1996. He has subsequently gained a seat at local level on the Central Coast Council.
Today "Van" lives in Ulverstone with his wife and three children - Lucy (10), Simon (8) and Jack (5). All are keen on sport - especially basketball. According to "Van" his greatest sporting thrill was scoring a hole-in-one at Royal Rosny golf course some years ago.
These days he is involved in his children's sport, follows Port Adelaide in the AFL and is a regular down south especially on Grand Final day.
"Van" considers himself to be a Tasmanian Living Legend and quite frankly who could disagree - especially those at Clarence.
Andrew Vanderfeen a true football journey man and a great character.
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Andrew VanDerFeen - A Tasmanian Football Legend
