SLOWLY and steadily, athletic Richmond tall David Astbury has begun to work his way back in the game.

The 21-year-old had his first taste of match-play on Sunday, almost a year after knee surgery to repair damage from a twisted patella.

Astbury made his return in Williamstown where he stepped out in limited game-time for Richmond affiliate Coburg Tigers against Williamstown in the AFL Victoria development league.

Richmond development manager Greg Mellor yesterday wrote, via

"Many of the Richmond players were there to watch their popular teammate play his first game in nearly a year," Mellor said.

"He played through the wing and midfield, during a modified three quarters of game time, just to run around and find the footy."

It is the first step for Astbury, who must still work his way back via the Victorian Football League for Coburg.

But it is a good start.

Astbury took to his personal Twitter account to say he enjoyed the challenge.

"Glad to get the first one out of the way! Body felt good and enjoyed getting my hands in the footy again. Thanks for the support #longroad," Astbury wrote.

A sickening collision with Sydney midfielder Ben McGlynn put Astbury's game on hold.

Astbury was stretchered from the field less than five minutes into the first term of the round 12 clash.

Tigers staff were forced to drive Astbury home to Melbourne amid the nation's aviation crisis with cut flights grounding the playing group in Sydney post-match overnight.

The bulk of the Tigers made their way back in a 10-hour bus ride the next day.

Astbury, from Tatyoon, was drafted to Richmond in the 2009 AFL National Draft from North Ballarat Rebels and impressed for Vic Country in the AFL national under-18 championships the same year.

The versatile tall stamped his mark in an impressive AFL debut in round four, 2010, in which he kicked three goals from seven disposals against Melbourne.

He played in the Tigers' opening four games last season and was moved back to Coburg for some fine-tuning before forcing his way back into the Richmond line-up.

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