The 19-year-old has become a reliable pillar in Sam Lonergan’s back six setup – moulding a solid wall with Chris Savage, Jimmy Aganas, Casey Brown, Joe Boyce and Ryan Tyrell.

Vandervelde is a competitor that likes to learn from his opponents in a bid to improve every time he pulls on a Blues jumper.

“It’s incredibly difficult to get a spot in the side at the moment,” Vandervelde, who is studying justice studies at University of Tasmania, said.

“I really love the challenge and Sam has a lot of trust in me and I use that trust as confidence going into each game.

“The biggest challenge I’ve had was last year when I had to play on Mitch Thorp playing for Devonport, but you learn from players like him and know where you go wrong and take it on board.

“As a defensive group, we are now working really well together.

“At the start of last year we were a little shaky and coming to terms with how Sam wants us to play but by the end of the season we’ve certainly gelled and got great confidence in each other.”

Lonergan said Vandervelde was a pleasure to coach and expects him to spend time manning Clarence’s experienced ruck-forward Wade Wall at Bellerive Oval on Saturday.

“Simon’s six-foot six, extremely courageous in the air and his ability to read the flight and play... he’s probably one of the better ones in the TSL,” he said.

The clash of the contenders starts at 2pm.