Former Richmond assistant coach Justin Leppitsch has revealed the details of an inner sanctum meeting which raised a radical positional shift for defender David Astbury.
The 30-year-old has been a mainstay in Richmond’s line-up since 2016 and has been at Punt Road since being drafted at the end of the 2009 season.
Two seasons ago, Leppitsch was involved when current midfield and stoppage coach Adam Kingsley made a suggestion to senior coach Damien Hardwick who was looking to bolster their depth on the wing.
Kingsley boldly suggested Astbury as a player who could possibly make the switch from his key defensive post to the wing, which didn’t go down well with Hardwick, prompting a humorous reaction in true 'Dimma' style.
“Adam Kingsley was very wet under the ears in 2019 as it was his first year there (as an assistant coach),” Leppitsch said on SEN's Whateley, tongue planted firmly in cheek.
“Damien Hardwick was looking for a wing replacement and a hard runner to get back and Adam Kingsley thought it was a good idea (to suggest) David Astbury. There was dead silence in the room.
“Dimma just popped on up, he walked over to the door, opened it and said ‘get out’.”
It is safe to say that the suggestion from Kingsley, who was somewhat inexperienced at the time, did not quite capture the imagination of Hardwick.
Astbury, one of several triple premiership players at Richmond, remains a key part of the side that is looking to win a third consecutive flag and fourth in five years in 2021.