Tall Richmond defender David Astbury has attributed much of his impressive form turnaround in recent weeks to a developing on-field partnership with the Tigers’ star key backman Alex Rance.

Astbury picked up a league career-high 23 disposals v Port Adelaide in Round 15, took a career-high 12 marks v Western Bulldogs in Round 16, and finished with 13 disposals and 10 marks, including a game-high five intercept marks, against Essendon in last Saturday’s Round 17 clash.

“It’s something that’s sort of been gathering momentum in the last month,” Astbury said on SEN.

“Obviously, he’s (Rance) one of the premier defenders in the comp. and sometimes he makes my life pretty easy . . .

“I learn off him every week and we’re getting a real understanding of how we like to play.

“Hopefully I can have a long career next to him, because he certainly looks after me.”