Retiring Richmond defender David Astbury has named his two most admired opponents.
Astbury, a three-time premiership player at the Tigers, will play final game against Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday after calling time on his 12-year career on Tuesday.
A key member of Richmond’s defence after starting his career as a forward, the 30-year-old pinpointed his two toughest opponents over more than a decade in the AFL, a pair of veterans with 1,339 goals and counting between them.
“There’s two who I’ve played on who I really appreciate and admire, and that’s Josh Kennedy from the west, and Tommy Hawkins,” Astbury said on SEN Breakfast.
“They both keep you so honest, and they’re both such good people, they’re both so good for footy.
“It would be very difficult to split them, but they’re definitely the two guys I’ve always had my hands full with.”
Astbury will finish up on 155 games after he was selected by Richmond with pick No.35 in the 2009 National.
Hawthorn veteran Shaun Burgoyne will play his 407th and final game on Saturday, while four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson will also bid farewell after parting ways with the Hawks.