In this special “Grand Final Rebels” series, we’ll profile the six former Rebels players set to take part in the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final, looking back at the path that has led them to that One Day In September. Today in our second of six profiles, we take a look back at the pathway of Richmond’s David Astbury.
With the 35th selection of the 2009 AFL National Draft, a skinny kid from Tatyoon who played just the one year of TAC Cup footy was headed for Tigerland – almost eight years and 84 AFL games later, David Astbury is set to play a key role in Saturday’s Toyota AFL Grand Final.
The 195cm defender attended school at Caulfield Grammar before joining the Rebels as a top-age player in 2009, where he immediately impressed Rebels talent Manager Phil Partington.
“[David] came to us as an 18 year old, he went to Caulfield Grammar as a 17 year old”, Partington told therebels.com.au earlier this week.
“He played mostly at centre half-back for the Rebels, with a bit of centre half-forward too”.
“He was a really good stopper of the footy, and excelled at Vic Country level as well”.
Whilst Astbury is known as a defender, and is versatile enough to be considered to match up on both Adelaide captain Taylor “Tex” Walker or the mercurial Eddie Betts, he initially made his mark up forward, kicking a career-high three goals in his AFL debut against Melbourne in 2010…so if the Tigers need a forward spark late in the game on Saturday, the boy from Tatyoon could become a hero!
Our Grand Final Rebels schedule for the week looks like this, click on the name for past articles…
Monday – Shaun Grigg
Tuesday – David Astbury
Wednesday – Brad Crouch
Thursday – Matt Crouch
Friday – Dan Butler
Grand Final Day – Daniel Rioli
With the 35th selection of the 2009 AFL National Draft, a skinny kid from Tatyoon who played just the one year of TAC Cup footy was headed for Tigerland – almost eight years and 84 AFL games later, David Astbury is set to play a key role in Saturday’s Toyota AFL Grand Final.
The 195cm defender attended school at Caulfield Grammar before joining the Rebels as a top-age player in 2009, where he immediately impressed Rebels talent Manager Phil Partington.
“[David] came to us as an 18 year old, he went to Caulfield Grammar as a 17 year old”, Partington told therebels.com.au earlier this week.
“He played mostly at centre half-back for the Rebels, with a bit of centre half-forward too”.
“He was a really good stopper of the footy, and excelled at Vic Country level as well”.
Whilst Astbury is known as a defender, and is versatile enough to be considered to match up on both Adelaide captain Taylor “Tex” Walker or the mercurial Eddie Betts, he initially made his mark up forward, kicking a career-high three goals in his AFL debut against Melbourne in 2010…so if the Tigers need a forward spark late in the game on Saturday, the boy from Tatyoon could become a hero!
Our Grand Final Rebels schedule for the week looks like this, click on the name for past articles…
Monday – Shaun Grigg
Tuesday – David Astbury
Wednesday – Brad Crouch
Thursday – Matt Crouch
Friday – Dan Butler
Grand Final Day – Daniel Rioli
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