Richmond Football Club and former Tatyoon player David Astbury was guest speaker at Sunday’s Mininera and District Football League best and fairest count.
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Astbury said it was important to visit home when he had the chance to see his family and friends.
“It is also important to acknowledge the people that drove my career and gave me the opportunity to make it to the AFL,” he said.
“It gives you a real sense of perspective of where you have come from.
“There is so many great people in this room who really looked after me and its good to pay homage to what they did for me.”
After Astbury moved to Melbourne, he said his view of the world changed.
“Tatyoon was all I had when I was young,” he said.
“I was from a wheat farm around 10 km from the footy club.
“I thought Tatyoon was as big as it got before I moved to the city.”
Astbury also credited his junior club for its off field achievements
“So many great people who continue to drive the football club,” he said.
“Obviously they have had plenty of success on field but it is what they do off the field that I think makes it a special club.”
Astbury said community football provided things that were hard to find elsewhere.
“Local footy just gives you an opportunity to meet so many people from so many different walks of life,” he said.
“Sometimes I do miss that culture of local footy.
“There are so many aspects that I do miss about it.
“But it is an honour to represent the Richmond footy club and I am glad it will continue.”
Astbury has plenty of things to remind him of the country life.
He said some of his best friends at Richmond also came from rural areas.
“It is remarkable sometimes,” he said.
“A lot of the time the guys that are from the country are really genuine and people gravitate towards them.
“A lot of my friends from the football club are country people.
“I live with Sam Lloyd, who is from just outside of Deniliquin, Anthony Miles, who is from Howlong, these sorts of people are my best mates at the footy club.
“I am not sure whether its a by product of them being from the country but i think it does have a lot to do with it.”
The Astbury name is still prominent within the club.
Astbury’s sisters play in the the Hawks’ A Grade netball team.
The Tigers defender has played 60 games for the Tigers.
Astbury signed a contract extension in August.
Tatyoon was all I had when I was young.
- David Astbury
