Richmond 2017 premiership key defender David Astbury paid a heartfelt tribute to revered, retiring teammate Ivan Maric at the Jack Dyer Medal function earlier this week. Here is an edited version of what Astbury had to say about the immense influence exerted by big ‘Ivvy’ throughout his time at Tigerland...

“He represented the Richmond Football Club with pride, with passion, and stood up for the values of the football club as they aligned with his . . .

“Ivan took our leadership and culture personally, and to a new level. He had an undeniable ability to make the simple, the fundamental, seem inspirational. The little things, the things that were commonly overlooked, or seen as irrelevant, they really mattered to him. And, from this, a culture was born – a culture driven by him . . . The result of Saturday (Grand Final victory) is the fruit of the measures and standards that he put in place.

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“He’s been demanding and assertive, as well as caring and understanding. How he strikes this balance is a testament to who he is . . . He has been a remarkable role model to all the youth that have set foot in at Punt Road.

“Ivan, in your retirement speech you said, ‘My name isn’t going to be placed on any locker, and if I’m being honest, that hurts my ego a little bit’. You found yourself struggling to find something measurable to validate your amazing career. Well, if I’m being honest, you’re right. What you have done is impossible to measure – but in the best way possible.

“People have been inspired by you, myself included, and if I can have as much of an impact throughout my career at the Richmond Football Club, as you have had, I will leave overwhelmingly happy and consider my career to be a huge success.

“To the youth of our great club, you have no idea how lucky you are to have learned and been given direction by someone like Ivan. It’s now your responsibility to carry the learnings and behaviours into our future.

“Personally, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, for all the support, advice and friendship, the time we’ve spent together. Through adversity, you’ve been the person I’ve turned to, and I know that I don’t stand alone.

“I’m going to miss the locker-room banter and the competitive edge that drives you . . . But, most importantly, I won’t miss your legacy, because that’s here to stay.”