Paul Vander Haar has been celebrated as a selfless teammate on his induction into the Essendon Hall of Fame. 

‘The Flying Dutchman’ recalled his early reluctance to leave local football in Ringwood for the heights of the VFL.

“I thought it was all too hard, all too difficult,” he said.

But a meeting with then Essendon Coach Bill Stephen changed all that.

Stephen urged the reluctant star to get the most out of his obvious talent and Vander Haar has been grateful ever since. 

“It has been a great time – a difficult time – but I’ve enjoyed it,” he said.

Vander Haar played in four Grand Finals for the Bombers and two premiership winning teams.

Since retiring he’s had knee operations and a knee replacement.

He played a brutal style.

“I’ve never seen a bloke not take his eye off the ball like Vander,” former Captain Terry Daniher said.

“He just loved his mates and he played hard for them.”

Vander Haar retired after the 1990 season, before managers, sponsors and TV rights deals really took hold.

“Footy’s never been really financial for me,” he said.

“I earned around $16,000 in my last year.  Half of that went in tax and the other half went in fines.” 

Games: 201

Goals: 278

Premierships: 1984, 1985

State of Origin: 1978, 1982, 1985