David Astbury, Thank You | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
  • IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.

David Astbury, Thank You

We need to give Astbury more time, but it's not looking good. Seems all at sea in the backline even at VFL level. I think he's on a 2 year contract so can hopefully show something sometime this year or next
 
no way i'd be writing this kid off, has way too much footy smarts and ability not to make it barring further injuries. he was slow before the knee so didn't have any pace to lose. his biggest strength is his one on one body work in the contest and it seems most have forgot his ability to read the play and decision making (especially with the ball), even under pressure. let him get confidence and strength back into his peg and he'll carve out a bloody good career

cmon Dave
 
Lack of athleticism but good smarts and skills when he has the ball and can also take a decent grab. I'd say that means his best bet is as a super fit leading CHF/HF who can make his own play not follow it.

Shame the coaches can't figure out where he has the best shot if making it. Thought that's what their paid for.
 
Barnzy said:
Lack of athleticism but good smarts and skills when he has the ball and can also take a decent grab. I'd say that means his best bet is as a super fit leading CHF/HF who can make his own play not follow it.

Shame the coaches can't figure out where he has the best shot if making it. Thought that's what their paid for.
Click to expand...
LidsBling&Cotch said:
no way i'd be writing this kid off, has way too much footy smarts and ability not to make it barring further injuries. he was slow before the knee so didn't have any pace to lose. his biggest strength is his one on one body work in the contest and it seems most have forgot his ability to read the play and decision making (especially with the ball), even under pressure. let him get confidence and strength back into his peg and he'll carve out a bloody good career

cmon Dave
Click to expand...
Agree. To me he is a natural forward. For the life of me I can't understand why they are trying to convert him as a defender. His debut game against Melbourne clearly showed this.
 
I watched the game live on You Tube and thought Astbury looked slow. Just finished watching the HIgh Quality You Tube replay and saw a different game from David.

In the first 7 mins there were 4 plays he was involved in that looked a lot worse than they were.
1st mark from Liam Jones (10 secs in) was unstoppable - great kick from Aaron Davey.
Similar story on 2nd mark on the other flank. Astbury was right on him on both occasions but passes were 1st class.
3rd mark at CHF that looked like a contested mark by Jones was actually uncontested because Chris Newman missed a block on Jones and got Astbury instead then wussed it and didn't jump on Jones. Bad play by Chris.
4th play was Betts spin which he has pulled off before against far more athletic guys like Steve Morris last year. David actually showed good mobility to track him well but for some reason went the low tackle instead of just holding back. It was a misplay, not an athletic fail.

Then for the rest of the game he was quite solid particularly in marking contests. I noticed some very good spoil and recoveries on the far side that were hard to see clearly on the video unless you rewound and looked twice. Showed good kicking skills on both feet.

I finished the video feeling much better about his mobility than when I started. I'm looking forward to having a much closer look on a large HD TV in NAB 1 but I think he may be a lot further along than is being portrayed here.
 
Thought Astbury was great last night. Good pace, sure hands and kicking. Looked very much like the pre injury Astbury. :clap
 
Mobility looked very good last night. And his decision making and use were back. A welcome return. Some talent coming through.
 
will be a very handy player. Players like David don't grow on trees. Can't understand the negativity towards him actually. He will be a beauty IMO.
 
Dyer'ere said:
Mobility looked very good last night. And his decision making and use were back. A welcome return. Some talent coming through.
Click to expand...

Seemed to have fined down a bit from last year, looked way to bulky and cumbersome last year, guess a full pre season helps there. Assa does play with a fair bit of composure for one so inexperienced. Hoping he keeps stepping up this year, still have some doubts but happy to wait while he develops.
 
He is smart enough, but such a versatile player ,the club may confuse him to death.


I recall seeing him and Rance having a run early in their career in NAB cup, and Rance looked truly appauling, Astbury looked like a Blonde St Kilda forward from the seventies :)


Injuries aside, Astbury to me is a natural half forward. Imagine the work Richo did running up on the wing to receive long passes from defence.


Astbury to me needs to be that player, and drifting forward where he has the versatility and height to play tall or defensive forward as needed.
 
i wll say it now - Astbury is our third forward.

a edwards can churn mud at coburg city oval.

just let him work his way back - Dimma will have no choice but to tell him to lead up after our forward line stinks it up after first five rounds.

dave is quality - am bullish and am confident of seeing him salute in the best 22 by the end of the season.
 
Thought his speed and mobility looked ok on Friday night... granted I had downed a few by the second half of the first game and it was the Melbourne forward line who would make many look better than they are
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
< Farewell to a long time member | Match Sim v Melbourne Sunday 18th February - Casey Fields 10am (Foxtel/Kayo) >
Official PRE merch now on Redbubble!
Top Bottom