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Laitham Vandermeer (born 3 February 1999) is an Australian rules footballer, who plays for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the Western Bulldogs with the 37th draft pick in the 2018 AFL draft.

Early Football

Vandermeer participated in the Auskick program at Mooroopna, Victoria

Vandermeer played for the Murray Bushrangers for 3 seasons and Vic Country in the AFL Under 18 Championships for 1 season. Prior he played with Mooroopna Football Club and his school side at Xavier College, with future teammate Bailey Smith.

AFL career

2020 season: Debut

Vandermeer played 15 games for the Bulldogs' Victorian Football League (VFL) side in 2019, before breaking into the Australian Football League (AFL) team in 2020. Vandermeer debuted in the Bulldogs' loss to the St Kilda Saints in the second round of the 2020 AFL season. Vandermeer kicked his first goal on his debut, as well as collecting 10 disposals, 3 marks and 2 tackles. Vandermeer suffered a hamstring injury in the Bulldogs' 11 point loss to the Geelong Football Club in the 14th round of the 2020 AFL season, and was ruled out for the rest of the home and away season. Vandermeer won the Western Bulldogs Chris Grant Best First Year Player award, after playing 12 games in the 2020 AFL season and kicking 9 goals.

2021 season

Vandermeer started out the season strongly, kicking 2 goals and collecting 14 disposals in the Western Bulldogs' opening round win over Collingwood.

Statistics

Statistics are correct to round 2, 2021

1. The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honours & Achievements

• Chris Grant Best First Year Player: 2020

References

1. "AFL Draft - Pick 37: Laitham Vandermeer". Retrieved 27 June 2020.
2. "Laitham Vandermeer - Footywire". Retrieved 27 June 2020.
3. AFL Record. Round 9, 2022. pg 42
4. "Aussie Rules Draft Central - Laitham Vandermeer". Retrieved 27 June 2020.
5. Twomey, Callum (11 September 2021). "From Xavier's half-back line to a prelim: Schoolmates on two EPIC moments". AFL Media. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
6. "One more year for Vandermeer". Retrieved 27 June 2020.
7. Rosen, Laurence (14 June 2020). "Saint win big as Dogs falter under Sunday night spotlight". SEN 1116. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
8. "The Shepp Dog lapping things up". Retrieved 27 June 2020.
9. "Round 2 • St Kilda v Western Bulldogs - Player Stats". Retrieved 2 September 2020.
10. Canil, Jourdan (1 September 2020). "Double injury blow for Dogs makes finals a tough ask". AFl Media. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
11. "King Caleb: Daniel crowned top Dog". Western Bulldogs Media. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
12. Cleary, Mitch (19 March 2021). "Treloar gets the last laugh as Dogs dominate disposals". AFL Media. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
13. "Smith's super start". Western Bulldogs Media. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
14. "Laitham Vandermeer". AFL Tables. Retrieved 11 July 2020.

External links

• Laitham Vandermeer's profile on the official website of the Western Bulldogs
• Laitham Vandermeer's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• Laitham Vandermeer at AustralianFootball.com

• 1999 births
• Living people
• Western Bulldogs players
• Murray Bushrangers players
• Mooroopna Football Club players
• People educated at Xavier College
• Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)