Given David Astbury’s consistency of performance across Richmond’s backline throughout the 2017 season, he must surely be a contender for selection in this year’s All-Australian squad.

The key Tiger defender is averaging 15.4 disposals and 6.6 marks per match this season. He’s ranked 11^th in the competition for total marks, and has been repelling countless opposition attacking moves through his first-rate interception ability.

Astbury again was prominent for Richmond in its win against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium last Saturday night.

He had 19 disposals, an equal game-high nine intercepts, six score involvements and took a team-high nine marks, including a game-high four intercept grabs.

“His hands are as sticky as anyone’s at the moment,” Astbury’s Tiger teammate Shane Edwards said on 3AW.

“He’s not just spoiling it, he’s marking it and using the ball back the other way.

“So he’s exactly what you’d want right next to ‘Rancey’ (Alex Rance) down there. And he’s only going to keep improving as well.”

Rance, an All-Australian representative for the past three years, and regarded as the competition’s premier key defender, spoke about the close bond he’s developed with Astbury, in an interview with ‘Fox Footy’ following last Saturday night’s victory over the Suns.

“Dave and I are very, very good mates on a personal level, almost like brothers . . ,” Rance said.

“I trust immensely in him and we both almost have an unspoken bond out there, where I know when he’s going to fly and he knows when I am.

“He’s really stood up this year and played fantastic footy.”