AARON vandenBerg says it’s been a long road back to the highest level, but one that’s “definitely” been worth the ride.   

Having missed the entire 2017 home-and-away season, and much of this year with a foot injury, vandenBerg returned to the AFL in round 20 and has since featured in the past five matches.

Now, he’ll play his six match of the season – his 33nd overall – when he lines up in Melbourne’s first semi-final against Hawthorn at the MCG on Friday night – something he would never have envisaged early in 2018.

“At the start of the year, you’re not entirely sure if you’re going to even get back and play a game,” he said.

“If you had have asked me at the start of the year, how I would’ve wanted it to go, I don’t think I could’ve asked for anything any different.”

vandenBerg conceded it had been “really difficult” coming back from injury.

“It’s a really lonely place and it’s a hard place, and not only do you have doubt from people outside of the place – you also have doubt on yourself and whether you’re going to get back and play or not,” he said.

“Just to be able to get back and play AFL, and do my job and feel like I’m not only just going out there, is a great feeling.”

Still, despite all the setbacks with his foot injury, nothing compared to the loss of father earlier this year.

“Everything football-related pales into insignificance when you lose your old man and it’s been an extremely difficult couple of months for me,” he said.

“It’s not going to get any easier, but I’ve had great support around me from the club, and from family and friends.

“The two hours that you run out on the field are two hours where you can forget about everything that’s happening, and just worry about something you enjoy doing, which is nice.”

Returning via Casey, in the round 16 AFL equivalent, vandenBerg played three games in the VFL and was an emergency against Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval, before gaining his call-up against Gold Coast Suns at the MCG in round 20.

But his initial return via Casey was an important part of his comeback.

“It was really enjoyable just to get back out there and play at Casey,” he said.

“[Casey coach] Jade’s (Rawlings) running a fantastic program there and I really enjoy all of the boys there – both from the AFL list point of view and the VFL list.

“Just to get back out there and have some enjoyment back in the game was great. Then three weeks later to get the nod to come back in the AFL team was probably a little bit sooner than I expected, but I was really grateful to get the opportunity. To have a kick on the ‘G again was great.”

vandenBerg has played up forward and on the wing since his return and has enjoyed pushing up the ground recently.

“I played a few games forward at the very start because ‘Melky’ (Jake Melksham) was out [injured] and since he’s come back in, it’s pushed me back up on the wing,” he said.

“I feel a lot more comfortable around there, in the midfield and around the ball and the contest a little bit more, and it’s a really difficult role.

“It’s a lot of running – a lot of off-ball running – but it’s one of my strengths, so I think that’s why ‘Goody’ has put me there. I’m just doing my job for the team and if we’ve got 22 blokes doing their job, we’ll be right.”

Now as he prepares for his second final, vandenBerg said he was not taking his place in the team for granted. 

“I don’t think too much about what’s gone on,” he said.

“I’m just more concerned about what’s coming up and sometimes it is nice to sit back and reflect about where you’ve come from and what we’ve overcame to get to this point, which should make it all that little bit more special.

“My main concern is just making sure that when we get out there, we do a great job for both the supporters and for ourselves, and hopefully we get the win.”

Given everything he’s been through in the past couple of years, vandenBerg said he loved the game more and had a greater passion for it.

“I actually think I do enjoy it a little bit more. Dealing with injury and then even playing in 2016 with a bad foot, you do put a lot of pressure on yourself and when you’re not playing up to the standard that you think you can, it can be a pretty disappointing week sometimes,” he said.

“Since I’ve got back, I’ve really just tried to soak it in and just enjoy actually being out there, and getting the opportunity again, because sometimes you never know if you’re going to get it again.

“I’m really enjoying it at the moment and the club’s a great place to be at the moment. The boys are great to be around and it’s nice to have a winning feeling around the place.”