AFL: Richmond premiership defender David Astbury and Essendon veteran Cale Hooker have retired

A star defender from Richmond’s three AFL premierships in the past four years and an Essendon veteran have decided to retire.

David Astbury, Alex Rance and Dylan Grimes celebrate a Tigers premiership. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The first big domino has fallen as premiership powerhouse Richmond starts looking to the future, with triple-premiership defender David Astbury calling time on his AFL career.

With the reigning premiers set to miss the finals for the first time since 2016, 30-year-old Astbury, a key cog in the team’s first-choice backline throughout their premiership wins, has decided to step away.

“It really is a dream to be completely content with what my career consists of and be really proud of that,” he said.

“I am really humbled by the football club wanting to keep me around, but I know this decision is right for me and for the club going forward.

“I am so proud that I have fulfilled my career and my dream at one club, this club.

“People say it is just a game, and they have got a point. It is a game, but that is not the reason that you do it. This group has delivered hope, purpose, connection and joy to our people – the Richmond people. It is really special, and I am proud of that.”

From No.39 to the famous No. 12
 
From a three-goal debutant to three-time premiership defender
 
From Dimma’s third draftee to the epitome of a Richmond Man
 
From Tatyoon to Tigerland, thanks for the journey, Dave 🙏

— Richmond FC 🐯🏆 (@Richmond_FC) August 17, 2021

Astbury played 154-games across a 12-year AFL career, including all three of Richmond’s premierships in 2017 and 2019-20.

Astbury’s only coach in the AFL, Damien Hardwick, said the key defender came into the organisation as an “incredible human” but would leave an even better one and an all-time great of the football club.

“Dave is the epitome of the Richmond Man that we speak about all the time. The legacy that this man will leave is up there with the very best players at our footy club,“ Hardwick said.

All-Australian Essendon swingman Cale Hooker has also announced he will retire at season’s end.

Cale Hooker of the Bombers will retire. Pic: Michael Klein

The 32-year-old, who has played 219 games across 13 seasons at the Bombers, informed teammates of his decision on Tuesday afternoon.

“I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity the club has given me and I will leave the game at the end of the season knowing I left no stone unturned to give the club, my teammates and the fans everything I had,” Hooker said.

“To have been part of something bigger than myself, something that is so important to so many people, has been such a privilege and an honour. Representing this jumper is something I will never take for granted.”

Originally published as AFL: Richmond premiership defender David Astbury and Essendon veteran Cale Hooker have retired