David Astbury and Daniel Rioli could hardly come from more contrasting backgrounds.
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The now 29-year-old Astbury grew up in the rural community of Tatyoon near Ararat and was fortunate to make his way onto the North Ballarat Rebels list in the TAC Cup under-18 competition.
A member of a legendary AFL family, Rioli was born in Fremantle and grew up in Pirlangimpi on Melville Island in the Tiwi Islands off the northern tip of the Northern Territory.
He moved to Ballarat at 14 years of age, attending Patrick's College as a boarder.
His early football journey also took him to the Rebels via East Ballarat juniors and so the common ground between Rioli and the six-year older Astbury began.
Astbury was drafted by Richmond in 2009.
It would be six years before it would be Rioli's turn and they would formally come together as Tiger teammates.
One of sport's biggest powers is the ability to bring people together - no matter where they have come from.
It does not matter what the sport is and it is happening every day.
Astbury and Rioli are a great example.
Just as Richmond teammates they immediately formed a tight bond.
Not necessarily as best mates, but at the very least as comrades in arms - working and playing for a common cause.
That went to another level in 2017 as premiership teammates.
Premierships are the ultimate aim in any team sport.That's what it is all about.
When you achieve it, you are immediately bonded with every teammate for life.
It's a tie that can never be broken.
If you have nothing else in common, you will always have that special bond - no matter where life takes you in your sporting career and beyond.
So if being alongside each other in 2017 did that, a second Richmond premiership last year took it to a whole new level.
One can only wonder how tight that bond will be if Astbury and Rioli help Richmond to a third in four seasons with victory over Geelong in Brisbane on Saturday night.
They are among 15 players still with the Tigers to be have been part of Richmond 2017 and 2019 grand final winning sides - Nathan Broad, Josh Caddy, Jason Castagna, Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards, Dylan Grimes, Bachar Houli, Kane Lambert, Dustin Martin, Toby Nankervis, Dion Prestia, Jack Riewoldt, Nick Vlastuin.
The majority of AFL players do not play in a premiership.
So to play in one is a privilege.
Two and three, well that's going to a whole new level - one that perhaps Astbury and Rioli are within reach of.