David Astbury [merged]

[Andyy]

Good game from Dave but I still think he should consider hanging up the boots at years end personally.

[Diocletian]

Where's the fork?

[Andyy]

Losing contests frequently.

Time to try Miller IMO. Astbury should retire at the end of the year, or before the MSD if Houli doesnt.

[georgies31]

Don't know why the criticism at Dave he was played out of position in the ruck he's a defender and that's it that's on Dimma that mistake putting him and Balta in the ruck and leaving our defence exposed play the second ruck for FFS.

[Fluffy Tiger]

Don't know why the criticism at Dave he was played out of position in the ruck he's a defender and that's it that's on Dimma that mistake putting him and Balta in the ruck and leaving our defence exposed play the second ruck for FFS.

I agree. He didn't get beaten down back any more than any of our other defenders. He did have that one real shocker but he was far from online on that front.

He is no ruckman or on baller but that's more of a coaching/selection problem.

Far from the biggest problem in our side atm.

[WilliamPowell]

Don't know why the criticism at Dave he was played out of position in the ruck he's a defender and that's it that's on Dimma that mistake putting him and Balta in the ruck and leaving our defence exposed play the second ruck for FFS.

I agree. He didn't get beaten down back any more than any of our other defenders. He did have that one real shocker but he was far from online on that front.

He is no ruckman or on baller but that's more of a coaching/selection problem.

Far from the biggest problem in our side atm.

Will watch the replay whe i get home but

My observations at the game when he was down back he looked slow, failed to get to contests and the opposition targeted getting the ball to his direct opponent

Don't forget he gifted them the safest goal in the 3rd when he ...ummm....err...tapped the ball forward instead of marking ( can't have call it a punch  )

Personally have concerns rightmost.

[Andyy]

Anyone backing him in needs to watch the replay.

As I have said at least twice or three times before - he is consistently losing contests after the first handful of rounds. I don't think he can play out the full season.

He's slow to move, slow to think, and his kicking is suspect. He generally only kicks down the line and is lucky to go 40m or more.

A few people say Miller is coming along nicely. If that's the case then we should play him while Grimes is still around to mentor him. Balta looks like he is settled. Grimes is about to turn 30 so you'd hate to have both Astbury and Grimes retiring within the same 12 months or so. That would place too much pressure on a guy like Miller. Get games into miller between now and 2022 because we might only have 18 months of Grimes left for all we know.

[Diocletian]

That's why we need to go after Sam Taylor.....

[Fluffy Tiger]

Don't know why the criticism at Dave he was played out of position in the ruck he's a defender and that's it that's on Dimma that mistake putting him and Balta in the ruck and leaving our defence exposed play the second ruck for FFS.

I agree. He didn't get beaten down back any more than any of our other defenders. He did have that one real shocker but he was far from online on that front.

He is no ruckman or on baller but that's more of a coaching/selection problem.

Far from the biggest problem in our side atm.

Will watch the replay whe i get home but

My observations at the game when he was down back he looked slow, failed to get to contests and the opposition targeted getting the ball to his direct opponent

Don't forget he gifted them the safest goal in the 3rd when he ...ummm....err...tapped the ball forward instead of marking ( can't have call it a punch  )

Personally have concerns rightmost.

I would usually watch the replay again myself before commenting as I see things clearer then but I don't think I could put myself though that rubbish umpiring again. I do agree he has slowed a bit and is getting nearer to the end of his playing career but he never was a speedster and that's not what he is in the side for. I saw all of our backline being beaten in contests at various times not just Astbury.

That tap was the shocker I was referring too. But he was not alone in making errors.  I feel he is far from the worst problem we have in the side. Small forwards not doing anything much, Tall forwards that cant kick straight and basically our midfield being out with some of the replacements not being up to it are more a problem the way I see it.

[Rampsation]

Astbury is done! Been an excellent servant of our club but hes done imho. Time for Ben Miller to start getting games.

[one-eyed]

Hardwick's update on Astbury:

“Dave’s been a little bit slower with regard to his achilles.

“He’ll be after the bye. He’s so just important to the way we play, but achilles’ can take a little bit of time.

Source: SEN

[Andyy]

Finito. Shame he didn't hang up the boots so we could take a second MSD.

[one-eyed]

David Astbury

An unrestricted free agent at year’s end. Was curtailed by injury last year before coming back and performing in the finals. He’ll be 31 heading into next season, so a one-year deal is likely be on the cards if he opts to keep playing.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/richmond-tigers/afl-news-2021-richmond-out-of-contract-players-trade-period-shai-bolton-free-agents-list-changes-who-could-leave-at-end-of-year/news-story/e012bc0ab741abe7279d88757badcc95

[Francois Jackson]

150th this week not that it matters much, given what they dished up in dustys 250th

[one-eyed]

It's taken 11 years but Dave plays his 150th on Sunday  .

2010  17 games
2011    5
2012    2
2013    5
2014    8
2015    4
2016  19
2017  25 ....... premiership
2018  22
2019  22 ....... premiership
2020    9 ....... premiership
2021  12*
-------------
Total  150* games

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/D/David_Astbury.html