Nick Vlastuin

Nick Vlastuin

Vlastuin in March 2017
Personal information
Full name Nicholas Alexander Leendert Vlastuin
Nickname(s) Tigger[1]
Date of birth (1994-04-19) 19 April 1994
Original team(s) Eltham (NFL)
Northern Knights (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 9, 2012 AFL National Draft: Richmond
Debut Round 5, 2013, Richmond
vs. Fremantle, at Subiaco Oval
Height 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 86 kg (190 lb)
Position(s) Midfield
Club information
Current club Richmond
Number 1
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2013– Richmond 89 (19)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of Round 19, 2017.
Career highlights

AFL

Junior

  • 2× U-18 national champion: 2011, 2012
  • U-18 All-Australian: 2012
  • U-18 VIC Metro captain: 2012
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Nick Vlastuin (pronounced [flɒs təʊn]) (born 19 April 1994) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life and junior football

Vlastuin spent his formative years living in Melbourne's northern suburbs.[2] He played his junior football at Eltham in the Northern Football League before moving to the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup at the age of 14.[1]

In 2011 Vlastuin represented the premiership winning Victorian Metro side at the Under-18 National championships.[3] He returned to the team in 2012, this time captaining the side to the competition title.[4] He was also named All-Australian for his performances in the tournament.[5] As an Under-18 player Vlastuin was also a member of the AFL-AIS academy; an elite training program for 30 of the country's best young footballers.[1]

Vlastuin completed high school at St Helena Secondary College in 2011.[1] In addition to football commitments, he worked as a pool lifeguard during 2012.[3]

AFL career

Vlastuin was drafted with Richmond's first pick and the ninth selection overall in the 2015 AFL National Draft.[6]

Vlastuin made his AFL debut in Round 5 of the 2013 AFL season in an away game against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval. In Round 7 of the same season he was nominated for the 2013 AFL Rising Star after a 23 possession game against Port Adelaide.[7] He also kicked his first career goal in the match.[8] He would go on to play 18 games in his first season, recording an average of 16.3 disposals and 4.8 marks per game and placing sixth in the Rising Star award.[9][10] In addition he received the Cosgrove-Jenkins award as the club's best first-year player.[11]

Vlastuin flies for a mark over Collingwood's Chris Mayne in Round 2 of the 2017 season

2014 saw Vlastuin play in 20 matches for the Tigers, including a finals series appearance for the second straight season.[8] He played in each of the club's first eight matches before suffering a broken finger in Round 9 against Melbourne.[12] He would return relatively quickly. Missing just two round of AFL action.[13] Vlastuin finished seventh at the club for tackles and ninth for rebound 50s in 2014.[14]

In his third year at the club, Vlastuin placed sixth in the club's best-and-fairest award, his highest place to date.[15] He was also nominated for the AFLPA's 22 Under 22 team but would fail to make the final team.[16] He did not miss a game that season playing all 23 home and away matches in addition to the club's losing elimination final.[8] In the 2015 off-season Vlastuin underwent minor hip surgery.[17]

At the beginning of the 2016 season he adopted the #1 guernsey, worn the previous season by retiring former club captain and personal backline mentor, Chris Newman.[18] In an understength side for the club's the first pre-season tournament match he played the role of captain, despite not being a member of the club's leadership group.[19] After captain Trent Cotchin was ruled out by a cheek fracture, Vlastuin was called up to play a midfield role in Richmond's Round 7 match-up with Hawthorn.[20] He recorded 16 disposals, a goal and six tackles in the match but did not reprise the role on a regular basis that season.[21] Vlastuin suffered a concussion in the second quarter of the club's Round 11 loss to North Melbourne.[22] In addition to missing the remainder of the match he sat out two more games, not returning until after the bye, in a Round 14 match against Brisbane Lions.[23] He was again nominated to the 22 Under 22 squad that season but would go unselected for the second straight season.[24] He placed ninth in the club's best and fairest count that season.[25]

Prior to the 2017 season, Richmond's coaches pegged Vlastuin for a move to a more stoppage focused role. He ceased training with the club's backline specific group and moved into the club's midfield training group.[26] Vlastuin was a key member of Richmond's strong start to the 2017 season, playing in the club's Round 1 victory over Carlton. He kicked a goal during the match while his 12 tackles for the match set a career best.[27] Vlastuin suffered a broken nose and concussion in the club's Round 3 win over West Coast.[28] He played with the lingering effects of the injury in Round 4 before concussion symptoms saw him sit out the club's Round 5 match against Melbourne.[29] Vlastuin suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter of his side's Round 7 match against the Western Bulldogs.[30] Scans later revealed a small scapula fracture with initial estimations suggesting he would miss three to four weeks of play.[31][32] He ultimately missed more than two months of AFL football, returning to the club's senior side in Round 17 following a fortnight of matches in the VFL.[33] He would however return to his previous home in the backline, with his midfield move scuttled by his injury and by previous injuries to key backline personnel.[25] In Round 18 he was among the Tigers' best, recording 11 marks and 21 possessions (13 intercepts) in the club's win over the GWS Giants.[25]

Vlastuin is contracted to Richmond through the end of the 2019 season.[34]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of Round 19, 2017[35]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team # Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)
2013 Richmond 31 18 9 3 157 137 294 86 55 0.5 0.2 8.7 7.6 16.3 4.8 3.1
2014 Richmond 31 20 4 3 168 136 304 82 61 0.2 0.2 8.4 6.8 15.2 4.1 3.1
2015 Richmond 31 23 1 0 191 161 352 102 62 0.0 0.0 8.3 7.0 15.3 4.4 2.7
2016 Richmond 1 19 4 2 187 112 299 107 45 0.2 0.1 9.8 5.6 15.7 5.6 2.4
2017 Richmond 1 9 1 1 68 49 117 38 34 0.1 0.1 7.6 5.4 13.0 4.2 3.8
Career 89 19 8 771 595 1366 415 257 0.2 0.1 8.7 6.7 15.3 4.7 2.9

Personal life

Vlastuin is a second generation Australian of Dutch descent.[2] He is son to mother Cecily and father Chris.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Chalk and cheese". Northern Football League. SportsTG. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Quayle, Emma (20 November 2012). "Thrill of the game helps control Nick's hard edge". The Age. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  3. 1 2 Clark, Jay (2 November 2012). "Pick Me: Nick Vlastuin at home in the trenches". Herald Sun. News Corp. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  4. ↑ Ralph, Jon (5 March 2013). "Richmond recruit Nick Vlastuin is raw but ready for senior football". Herald Sun.
  5. ↑ Phelan, Jason (2012). Top teams dominate Under-18s All Australian side – Australian Football League. Published 6 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  6. ↑ "Tigers Take Vlastuin". Richmond Football Club. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  7. ↑ Guthrie, Ben. "Vlastuin wins Rising Star nomination". AFL BigPond network. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 "Nick Vlastuin". AFL Tables. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  9. ↑ "Vlastuin’s Draft flashback". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  10. ↑ Lovett, Michael, ed. (February 2015). AFL Record Season Guide 2015. Melbourne, Victoria: AFL Media. p. 606.
  11. ↑ "Vlastuin aclaimed". Richmond Football Club. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  12. ↑ "Upgraded Miles set to line up against Giants". AAP. Bigpond. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  13. ↑ "Vlastuin stakes his claim". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  14. ↑ "2014 Player Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  15. ↑ Greenberg, Tony. "Greenberg’s Grabs from the 2015 Jack Dyer Medal". Richmond Football Club. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  16. ↑ Baldwin, Adam. "AFLPA 22under22 squad: Jesse Hogan, Chad Wingard, Taylor Adams, Jake Stringer". Fox Footy. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  17. ↑ Schmook, Nathan (9 October 2015). "Tigers on US mission". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  18. ↑ "Vlastuin's smooth transition". Richmondfc. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  19. ↑ "Vlastuin to thrive as skipper". Richmond FC. Bigpond. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  20. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (9 May 2016). "Midfield move makes Nick click". Richmond FC. Bigpond. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  21. ↑ "Round 7, 2016, Richmond vs Hawthorn". AFL Tables. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  22. ↑ Black, Sarah (11 June 2016). "Vlastuin withdrawn from Suns clash". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  23. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (23 June 2016). "Nick back". Richmond FC. Bigpond. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  24. ↑ Di Giorgio, Giulio. "Young Crows dominate 22under22 squad". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  25. 1 2 3 Schmook, Nathan (25 July 2017). "Back to the future for reliable Tiger defender". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  26. ↑ Cavanagh, Chris (26 January 2017). "Nick Vlastuin set to move into Richmond’s midfield in 2017 in team shake-up". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  27. ↑ Schmook, Nathan (23 March 2017). "Match report: Dusty blows away Blues". AFL Media. Bigpond. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  28. ↑ McGowan, Marc (8 April 2017). "Second-tier Tigers please Hardwick". Richmond FC. Bigpond. AFL Media. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  29. ↑ "Oppo: Tough Tiger eyes return". Adelaide FC. Telstra Media. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  30. ↑ "AFL Bulldogs claw past Tigers to grab thriller". The Australian. News Corp Australia. AAP. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  31. ↑ "AFL injury list: Who’s hot, who’s hurt at your club after Round 7". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  32. ↑ "Vlastuin to miss another week". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  33. ↑ McKay, Ben (14 July 2017). "Hardwick wants Tigers to toughen up in AFL". The West Australian. Yahoo!7. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  34. ↑ Nicholson, Larissa. "Richmond Tigers players Nick Vlastuin, Corey Ellis re-sign". The Age. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  35. ↑ "Nick Vlastuin". AFL Tables. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
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