David Astbury, Thank You

[blx]

nice points fart ace, especially him making his own accord up forward. i wonder if griff could become our chb. interesting times.

 

[The_General]

I think everyone saw the early potential.

I think what I meant by the club seeing it, is that they see all the things that happen behind closed doors as well. Sometimes you can see from the training drills etc, when a guy is picking things up skill wise, and then you need to hope he can translate that into match performances. I'm sure the club has seen some of column a (he's far from perfect though), and would be hoping he starts to show some things from column b in time too.

 

[johnson2richo2003]

nice points fart ace, especially him making his own accord up forward. i wonder if griff could become our chb. interesting times.

Got a feeling this is what will pan out with both Astbury and Griffiths.Astbury to CHF and Griff to CHB.

 

[linuscambridge]

I think what I meant by the club seeing it, is that they see all the things that happen behind closed doors as well. Sometimes you can see from the training drills etc, when a guy is picking things up skill wise, and then you need to hope he can translate that into match performances.

This is a point that so often gets ignored by posters when it comes to team selection and why I try and give the coaches the benefit of the doubt most of the time. If Astbury, Griffiths and Post go head to head at training in the drills, and one of the guys constantly wins the contest, then it's a fair chance he will get selected. If you can't beat your team mate at training then you can't claim his place in the team.

If the coaches show faith in a particular player then it's safe to assume he is beating his team mates at training.

 

[Tango]

or he cuts the grass neater and does the edges.... :hihi

 

[zippadeee]

Ashbury is a forward not a defender,
His game playing back have been awful!!!

 

[Opulentus Tigris]

Ashbury is a forward not a defender,
His game playing back have been awful!!!

Who's Ashbury?

 

[tigersnake]

Ashbury is a forward not a defender,
His game playing back have been awful!!!

I tend to agree, but I think his loss of form was pretty normal young player down on confidence. We've seen he can play, and that was in the forward line, but in Dimma I trust.

 

[Scoop]

2011: After a promising 2010 that saw Astbury play 17 games and get over 20 touches three times, 2011 was a year to forget. More impressive was the %72 disposal efficiency. For a first year key position player to show the ability to find the ball and use it correctly at the top level, I thought we had unearthed a CHB for the next decade. Astbury returned to 2011 with another 6-8kgs on his frame and looked even more like that CHB the side desperately needed. For far too long the RIchmond key backs have been liabilities with the ball in their hands and teams have sagged off and allowed long kicks to packs or shuffled back and set up the zone because they knew the first movement would be sideways to a better kick. Astbury looked to be someone who could solve that but he seemed to lose some of the mobility with his new size. In his first four weeks of the year, he struggled to show the ball winning ability of his first year only winning double figures once. Sent back to Coburg, Astbury only getting in the best once before a call back up to the AFL. It only lasted only 10 minutes when a knee injury ended his season. I don’t have too many issues with Astbury, his work in 2010 still makes me think we have someone who can hold down CHF or CHB. I am most impressed with the amount of size Astbury put on in the chest and shoulders area. But mobility and running ability are the area’s that set Astbury apart from other 195cm prospects. His ability below his knees is very clean and he can turn & change direction very well. Astbury is extremely good at taking the ball in front of his face at full pace with arms at full stretch. He doesn’t leave the ground if he doesn't‘t have too. Very balanced. As long as the extra weight doesn’t hinder his mobility he should continue to become a valuable part of the future.

2012: Astbury is still coming along slowly from the dislocated knee cap. He does talked of being ready to go for the first round of the NAB cup in this interview in September but that date appears to be set back with Astbury failing to join in on any of the intra club matches thus far.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9pgjD4v06Y

I would expect him to have the first four-six weeks of the year at Coburg just getting game time. If by that stage he is playing well it would be a great sign if he could play 12 games at AFL level and begin to look like the footballer of 2010. I just want to see him mobile and running out games. His footballing IQ will always see him make smart choices with the ball but it is his athleticism post knee and with extra size are questions that will be answered in 2012. I still have huge hopes for this boy and he is apparently a outstanding leader and one of the hardest workers on and off the track. For the spot he could fill in our best 22, I think the club made a very smart pick at 35 in 2009.

 

[Smoking Aces]

2011: After a promising 2010 that saw Astbury play 17 games and get over 20 touches three times, 2011 was a year to forget. More impressive was the %72 disposal efficiency. For a first year key position player to show the ability to find the ball and use it correctly at the top level, I thought we had unearthed a CHB for the next decade. Astbury returned to 2011 with another 6-8kgs on his frame and looked even more like that CHB the side desperately needed. For far too long the RIchmond key backs have been liabilities with the ball in their hands and teams have sagged off and allowed long kicks to packs or shuffled back and set up the zone because they knew the first movement would be sideways to a better kick. Astbury looked to be someone who could solve that but he seemed to lose some of the mobility with his new size. In his first four weeks of the year, he struggled to show the ball winning ability of his first year only winning double figures once. Sent back to Coburg, Astbury only getting in the best once before a call back up to the AFL. It only lasted only 10 minutes when a knee injury ended his season. I don’t have too many issues with Astbury, his work in 2010 still makes me think we have someone who can hold down CHF or CHB. I am most impressed with the amount of size Astbury put on in the chest and shoulders area. But mobility and running ability are the area’s that set Astbury apart from other 195cm prospects. His ability below his knees is very clean and he can turn & change direction very well. Astbury is extremely good at taking the ball in front of his face at full pace with arms at full stretch. He doesn’t leave the ground if he doesn't‘t have too. Very balanced. As long as the extra weight doesn’t hinder his mobility he should continue to become a valuable part of the future.

2012: Astbury is still coming along slowly from the dislocated knee cap. He does talked of being ready to go for the first round of the NAB cup in this interview in September but that date appears to be set back with Astbury failing to join in on any of the intra club matches thus far.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9pgjD4v06Y

I would expect him to have the first four-six weeks of the year at Coburg just getting game time. If by that stage he is playing well it would be a great sign if he could play 12 games at AFL level and begin to look like the footballer of 2010. I just want to see him mobile and running out games. His footballing IQ will always see him make smart choices with the ball but it is his athleticism post knee and with extra size are questions that will be answered in 2012. I still have huge hopes for this boy and he is apparently a outstanding leader and one of the hardest workers on and off the track. For the spot he could fill in our best 22, I think the club made a very smart pick at 35 in 2009.

Nice write up Scoop. Where do you see Astbury best position - CHB or as a CHF leading up into the wings?

 

[Tigers of Old]

My early fears of DA in 2011 were realised. Far too much expected of him at CHB in just his second season.
Many thought him a ready made replacement for McGuane, Thursfield etc. at CHB but it will take a few seasons to build up to the required strength to take on the comps seasoned KPFs.
Skillwise he's pretty solid but was found out in the contest by stronger players and is well aware of his need to build up his body on body work. He's working hard on it by all accounts.
Hopefully will come with maturity. too much weight added too quick didn't help his mobility either.

Club still is yet to decide whether he's best suited forward or back. Not even Astbury is 100% certain.
No certainty to become a good player yet.

BTW nice write up again Scooper.

 

[Phar Ace]

My early fears of DA in 2011 were realised. Far too much expected of him at CHB in just his second season.
Many thought him a ready made replacement for McGuane, Thursfield etc. at CHB but it will take a few seasons to build up to the required strength to take on the comps seasoned KPFs.
Skillwise he's pretty solid but was found out in the contest by stronger players and is well aware of his need to build up his body on body work. He's working hard on it by all accounts.
Hopefully will come with maturity. too much weight added too quick didn't help his mobility either.

Club still is yet to decide whether he's best suited forward or back. Not even Astbury is 100% certain.
No certainty to become a good player yet.

BTW nice write up again Scooper.

Yep, way too much expectation, and even playing him down back probably backfired - a close watch of him showed he struggled body to body. Without real core strength he was vulnerable (I realise most young players are anyway).

 

[tigersnake]

Nice write up scoop I concur. here's hoping, but I'm confident he's gunna be at least a solid CHB/F

 

[Scoop]

Nice write up Scoop. Where do you see Astbury best position - CHB or as a CHF leading up into the wings?

I see him as a CHB who can pinch hit up forward. In a ideal world he and Post would be able to play CHB and that third forward pushing up to the wings.

My early fears of DA in 2011 were realised. Far too much expected of him at CHB in just his second season.
Many thought him a ready made replacement for McGuane, Thursfield etc. at CHB but it will take a few seasons to build up to the required strength to take on the comps seasoned KPFs.
Skillwise he's pretty solid but was found out in the contest by stronger players and is well aware of his need to build up his body on body work. He's working hard on it by all accounts.
Hopefully will come with maturity. too much weight added too quick didn't help his mobility either.

Club still is yet to decide whether he's best suited forward or back. Not even Astbury is 100% certain.
No certainty to become a good player yet.

BTW nice write up again Scooper.

I think his size set him back. Too big, too quick. At times he reminds me of Lachie Henderson from Carlton. I think Astbury plays more then a 100 games at Tigerland.

 

[Tigers of Old]

I see him as a CHB who can pinch hit up forward. In a ideal world he and Post would be able to play CHB and that third forward pushing up to the wings.

I think his size set him back. Too big, too quick. At times he reminds me of Lachie Henderson from Carlton. I think Astbury plays more then a 100 games at Tigerland.

100 games would be a good result. Will depend a little how Post works out this year as to his future.

 

[Tony Braxton-Hicks]

With such a limited preseason we shouldn't expect too much from him this year, or write him off if he doesn't show too much.

 

[Streak]

My early fears of DA in 2011 were realised. Far too much expected of him at CHB in just his second season.

Far too much expected of him?

The club only went and gave him a nothing number like 12 :hihi

 

[zippadeee]

Far too much expected of him?

The club only went and gave him a nothing number like 12 :hihi

Is that the same club that gave Alex Gilmore number 29?

 

[Col.E.Kurtz]

My early fears of DA in 2011 were realised. Far too much expected of him at CHB in just his second season.
Many thought him a ready made replacement for McGuane, Thursfield etc. at CHB but it will take a few seasons to build up to the required strength to take on the comps seasoned KPFs.
Skillwise he's pretty solid but was found out in the contest by stronger players and is well aware of his need to build up his body on body work. He's working hard on it by all accounts.
Hopefully will come with maturity. too much weight added too quick didn't help his mobility either.

Club still is yet to decide whether he's best suited forward or back. Not even Astbury is 100% certain.
No certainty to become a good player yet.

BTW nice write up again Scooper.

I agree everything scoop said about his disposal but the strength in the contest is a big concern. There is the obvious excuse of youth, but even allowing for age he was being rag dolled too much.

He said in his PRE interview that the big focus with the coaching staff for him was strength in the contest. Hopefully he finds it. I really him as a footballer otherwise, but being a CHB without strength in the contest is like being a full forward who doesn't kick goals- you are no good at core business.

 

[Lennox Street]

He said in his PRE interview that the big focus with the coaching staff for him was strength in the contest. Hopefully he finds it. I really him as a footballer otherwise, but being a CHB without strength in the contest is like being a full forward who doesn't kick goals- you are no good at core business.

Think the club are selling him down the river a bit. Our desperation for a key defender doesn't magically make Astbury one. I think he should be playing the Miller role as the third marking target up forward. His mobility and kicking skills are his strengths, never has been a physical player good in a contest.