Richard "Richie" Vandenberg is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League. He was the captain of the Hawks for the final three years of his career, 2005?2007. He was selected with pick 78 in the 1997 AFL Draft. Vandenberg is of Dutch descent. Growing up near Wentworth, New South Wales, a small town near Mildura just on the northern side of the Murray River in far western New South Wales, he played junior football for the local club. He moved to Melbourne to study at the University of Melbourne in 1995, playing with the University Blues where he attracted the attention of Hawthorn recruiters. Vandenberg had his best seasons in 2000 and 2001. He was made captain when Shane Crawford stepped down for the 2005 season. He struggled to recapture his best form, but in 2006 fitted into his new role more solidy. On 4 September 2007 Vandenberg officially announced his retirement in a press conference. Vandenberg is a solidly built player with a reputation for aggressive play, fronting the AFL Tribunal on many occasions. 

January 14th, 1977 in (Age 47)