Vandermeer signed a two-year contract extension with the Bulldogs last week.
Known for his electric pace and tough defensive work, the 22-year-old has become a regular face in the senior line-up over the past two seasons.
Vandermeer, pick 37 in the 2018 AFL Draft, capped his debut campaign by taking out the club's best first-year player award.
Western Bulldogs’ general manager of list management and football projects Sam Power said the Mooroopna product had become an integral member of Luke Beveridge's outfit.
“We’ve been really pleased with Laitham’s development over the past couple of years,” Power said.
“He’s proven he can play some influential football at AFL level and with his speed, forward pressure and versatility has become an important part of the team.
“It was good to see him get a sustained run at it last year — winning our best first year player award — and he’s continued to display promising signs in the early stages of 2021.”
Tallygaroopna export Steele Sidebottom enjoyed a memorable milestone match.
The Congupna product celebrated his 250th club appearance for Collingwood with an 18-point win over North Melbourne.
Mooroopna's Jy Simpkin (16 disposals) and Rochester's Shaun Atley (22) battled hard for the Kangaroos.
Geelong had a healthy dose of supporters from the Cobram region on Friday night in its stunning win over Richmond.
Cobram export Esava Ratugolea returned to the Cats’ senior line-up for the first time in 2021 in the grand final rematch at the MCG.
Ratugolea, who also played juniors at Yarroweyah, helped Geelong exact revenge on the Tigers with a 63-point demolition in the round eight bout.
The talented big man racked up 10 disposals and eight hit-outs in the win.
The ruckman-forward looks set to keep his spot in the 22, despite being on the receiving end of an accidental poke to his eye.
“Esava suffered a poke to the eye in the game. We’ve had a number of enquiries about Esava, and he is absolutely fine,” Geelong's general manager of football Simon Lloyd said.
Finley's Tom Hawkins booted four majors in the win.
Katamatite export Tom Clurey helped Port Adelaide clinch another showdown win over arch-rival Adelaide.
Clurey tallied 17 disposals, 10 spoils and seven marks in the 12.15 (87) to 5.8 (38) triumph.
Echuca's Ollie Wines (24 touches) and Deniliquin's Todd Marshall (three goals) performed strongly, while Shepparton's Jordy Butts was on the receiving end of the loss.
Mooroopna jet Clayton Oliver was best-afield in Melbourne's narrow win over the Sydney Swans.
Oliver gathered 35 disposals, 10 clearances and five rebound 50s in the Dees’ nine-point triumph.
And Seymour product David Mundy was again one of Fremantle's top performers at the weekend.
Mundy had 27 disposals, eight score involvements and a goal in the Dockers’ 24-point loss to Brisbane Lions.
And Kyabram's Nick Holman had a whopping 28 pressure acts in Gold Coast Suns’ nine-point loss to St Kilda.
Lastly, Hawthorn's quartet of local products were unable to get the Hawks over the line against West Coast.
Shepparton's Jarman Impey registered 32 touches, while Benalla's Harry Morrison (20), Mansfield's James Cousins (16) and Rennie's Daniel Howe (18) performed strongly in the 38-point loss.
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