TATYOON Football Club has unveiled its secret weapon to win the 2023 Mininera League premiership cup.
AFL premiership player David Astbury is to return to his boyhood club this season after his retirement from Richmond.
Astbury played in three premierships over a 12 year career with Richmond (2017, 2019 and 2020).
He was drafted in 2009 and played 155 senior matches with the Tigers before announcing his retirement at the end of the 2021 season.
Astbury is Tatyoon through and through, being raised on a local farm and playing with the local club since he was a boy.
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Tatyoon Football Club President Rich Bibby told the Ararat Advocate this week, the club is delighted to have the return of a favourite son.
“David actually approached me and expressed his interest in wanting to come and have a kick with us this year. He made his mind up he wanted to come and have a kick so I didn’t have to hound him to come out,” he said.
“Supporter wise there will probably be quite a bit of interest and people will come to look at him to play. It’s pretty exciting to have him back really,’ he said.
“David’s also a really genuine bloke and very open and honest about what he’s done in his career and I think people really appreciate that side of him. He’s a true gentleman.”
Mr Bibby said Astbury will be a great mentor for younger players.
“He’s going to be a great asset to our club and to our younger footballers. His knowledge of the game and what he will bring to the club will be enormous.
While Astbury will be a welcome inclusion in the 2023 seniors team, it remains unclear how many games he will play with the club.
“He has work commitments and we’re not really sure how many games we will get out of him.
“We’re hoping to get quite a few games but he still has work commitments with the HockyRoos so that will determine how many games he plays with us,” Mr Bibby said.