By Sarah Matthews

Tatyoon’s David Astbury will vie for his third AFL premiership in four years when Richmond meets Geelong in Saturday’s grand final.

Astbury, 29, was part of the Tigers’ premiership sides in 2017 and 2019 and is looking to help his team-mates claim back-to-back flags.

Richmond secured its spot in the decider with a thrilling six-point win over Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

Astbury, who played in defence and pinch hit in the ruck, had seven disposals, three tackles, three hit-outs and three clearances.

The Tigers and Cats have met once so far this year, in round 17, with Richmond enjoying a 26-point win.

The grand final will be decided outside of Melbourne for the first time in AFL-VFL history, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The match – the first all-Victorian grand final since 2011 – will be played at Brisbane’s The Gabba from 7.30pm Victorian time, due to daylight saving hours.

Horsham footballer Jarrod Berry missed out on a grand-final berth when his Brisbane Lions outfit went down to the Cats on Saturday night.

The former Horsham Saint also impressed at Sunday night’s Brownlow Medal count, polling eight votes, including two best-on-ground performances. 

But the night belonged to his team-mate, Lachie Neale, who polled 31 votes from only 17 games to win the AFL’s highest individual honour. 

Neale, who spent his early years at Apsley before moving to a farm at Kybybolite in South Australia, finished 10 votes ahead of Port Adelaide’s Travis Boak.

He joined 1954 Brownlow winner Roy Wright to claim the equal biggest winning margin in the competition’s history, since the introduction of the 3-2-1 voting system.

Neale, 27, still has family in the Wimmera, including Wimmera Health Care Group executive assistant Alex Neale.

Ms Neale told media last week she was ‘anxious’ for her brother, who was red-hot favourite to take out the coveted prize.

“He’s always worked hard to make it at the top level,” she said.

“Before he was drafted he was told he would never make the AFL because he was too short, so to get where he is now is an amazing achievement and real reward for his efforts.”

Other Wimmera players to poll on Sunday night included Sydney’s Jake Lloyd, 3, Fremantle’s Darcy Tucker, 2, and St Kilda’s Sebastian Ross, 1.

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