VANDER HAAR, Paul

The son of Dutch immigrants, Paul Vander Haar was a brilliant high-mark, an accurate long kick, and capable of producing the unpredictable. While he was a natural on the field, he was a larrikin off it.

"Vanda" was a reluctant recruit who came to Essendon only after concerted efforts from the Club over a couple of years. He arrived at Windy Hill from Ringwood in 1977 and made an immediate impact on League football.

He debuted in Round 5 that year, played every remaining game, and marked himself as a player of the future. By the end of his first season he was the League Recruit of the Year, was voted Essendon's Best First Year Player, and was runner-up in the Club's Best and Fairest award.

His young career was threatened in early 1978 when he injured his neck and back in a trail bike accident, but he made an unexpected return in Round 6, 1978, against Richmond, kicked three goals and played every remaining game for the year. But a back condition plagued him throughout his career.

In Round 11 that year at Windy Hill, Vander Haar lined up at centre half-forward against Hawthorn's high-flyer, Peter Knights. What ensued was one of the most exciting demonstrations of highmarking by two of the game's champions. When the game was over, Vander Haar and Knights had pulled down 16 contested marks between them in a performance still talked about by those who were there and which justified his nickname, "The Flying Dutchman".

The arrival of coach Kevin Sheedy in 1981 coincided with Vander Haar's best football. He was part of the 1981 night premiership team and the following year was runner-up for the second time in the Club's Best and Fairest award.

In 1984 he played in his second night premiership win, as well as at centre half-forward in the drought-breaking 1984 premiership win over Hawthorn. He was centre half-back in the 1985 premiership win the following year and was also the Club's second highest goalkicker that season with 46 goals. His nine goals against St Kilda in the second last game of the year was the most by an Essendon player since 1972.

A broken leg in 1986 restricted Vander Haar to only five games for the year at a time when he was was playing very good football in defence. Injury also restricted him to only eight games the following year and two games in 1988. But he managed to play 12 and 17 games respectively in his final two seasons.

He represented Victoria in 1978, 1982 and 1985.

Vander Haar retired in 1990. His last game was in the losing Grand Final to Collingwood.

He was named at number 45 in the Champions of Essendon (2002).

Since retiring, Vander Haar has continued his father's business of installing swimming pools.