The Flying Dutchman is a legendary ghost ship that can never make port and is damned to forever sail the world’s oceans.
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Dylan Van Berlo has a Dutch heritage but his nickname couldn’t be more Aussie, VB.
Meet, the Flying Beer Can.
And he has arrived.
“Yeah definitely, I reckon I have probably because my body’s let me down on so many occasions,” he said.
“Mentally, it’s affected my game.”
A Rutherglen junior, Van Berlo joined Wangaratta in 2013 when he played at the Murray Bushrangers.
He became a permanent member the following season and that’s when his left hamstring problems started.
“It’s hard to attack the ball flat out, if you’re not 100 per cent sure your body’s going to be able to do it,” Van Berlo said.
“Even just the fact you don’t want to let your team-mates down, I think two weeks ago against Albury I only played the first quarter and sat the rest out, it affects the team a fair bit too.”
Van Berlo was sensational against Yarrawonga, taking a series of strong marks in defence.
“I think Dylan probably doesn’t realise how good he is himself at the moment,” coach Dean Stone said.
“He’s mobile, he’s relatively quick … he can mark the ball overhead and there isn’t too many of those blokes floating around.”
The 196-centimetre defender is only 22, so he should be a cornerstone of the defence for the best part of a decade.
The Pies will drink to that.