David Armitage Rewarded for Staying Power | Herald Sun

David Armitage rewarded for staying power | Herald Sun

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ROUND > 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 QF SF PF GF David Armitage rewarded for staying power Matt Windley Herald Sun June 01, 2012 12:00AM

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ST KILDA'S DAVID ARMITAGE IS THRIVING IN HIS BEST SEASON YET. PICTURE: MICHAEL KLEIN HERALD SUN

THERE have been at least two times in David Armitage's career when he could have been forgiven for taking the easy option of bailing out.

The first came at age 16 when he was living in Brisbane, nearly 1000km ADVERTISEMENT away from his home town of Mackay in North Queensland, trying to get a kick for QAFL team Morningside in an attempt to attract interest from AFL clubs.

The lure of home was strong, but the lure of a potential professional footy career was stronger.

He stayed.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/david-armitage-rewarded-for-staying-power/story-e6frf9jf-1226377796253[1/06/2012 11:59:01 AM] David Armitage rewarded for staying power | Herald Sun

The second came in his early 20s when he was frustrated by a lack of opportunities in St Kilda's senior side.

For all he knew there could have been other offers on the table, but there was only one team he wanted to play for. SUPERCOACH LOGIN He stayed. Click 'Play SuperCoach' to log Now Armitage is thriving, and nine games into his best season yet, new in to your SuperCoach account Play SuperCoach now! Saints coach Scott Watters is even using words such as "barometer" to describe the 23-year-old's influence on the team.

But just how different could things have been? AUSTRALIAN RULES MACKAY is not your typical AFL town. In fact, the only reason Armitage picked up a Sherrin in rugby league heartland was because his dad, Greg, was an avid Aussie rules fan from Tasmania. St Kilda Saints v Richmond Tigers Winner

The town had never produced an AFL player, and it was never going to St Kilda Saints $1.85 unless Armitage made the move south to further his career.

Richmond Tigers $2.00

Knowing that you're good enough to play, but just not Draw $51.00 having“ that confidence and not playing well week to week, that's a downer”

So on the advice of Mark Browning, a junior development officer for AFL Queensland, Armitage packed his bags, leaving his dad, mum Annette, elder brother Dylan and younger sister Sarah behind.

"It was a pretty hard decision - I had to go home and talk to my dad and sum it all up and we decided that if I want to go somewhere with this then the best thing to do would be to move down to Brisbane," Armitage said this week.

"My mates sort of said to me, 'We'll see you back here in two or three weeks'. They didn't think I'd stay down there."

Armitage admits he got a "little bit" homesick.

"First off I did. I'm a bit of a mamma's boy," he said.

"I missed Mum and Dad dearly, and also my friends, but I just stuck at it.

"They had a great culture at Morningside. I got on really well with all the older blokes, but I was also there with Gavin Urquhart (now North Melbourne), Courtenay Dempsey (Essendon) and Lee Spurr (Fremantle).

"It sort of went from, in my first year, 'You're a chance to get drafted', to, in my second year, 'You're a massive chance to go in the first round', which I still didn't really believe." MORE NEWS

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http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/david-armitage-rewarded-for-staying-power/story-e6frf9jf-1226377796253[1/06/2012 11:59:01 AM] David Armitage rewarded for staying power | Herald Sun

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DAVID ARMITAGE RELEASES A HANDBALL AGAINST GOLD COAST EARLIER THIS SEASON. PICTURE: WAYNE Cloke closing on Magpies deal LUDBEY MATT WINDLEY FREE agent Travis Cloke is a step TO THE end of the 2009 season Armitage had played only 19 games. closer to re-signing with Collingwood after the forward's management met The No.9 pick in the 2006 national draft knew he was good enough to play, Magpies officials. but was forced to bide his time in the VFL as fellow draftees from that year 16 Joel Selwood (70 games, two premierships), Bryce Gibbs (66 games), Jack Riewoldt (46 games, 57 goals) and Travis Boak (49 games) thrived on their senior experiences. AFL VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS "I'd had really good form in the VFL and then I'd step up to the AFL and it'd maybe be a (good) quarter or a half," he said.

"I couldn't get any continuity. I didn't really have any confidence to play at that level, even though I'd shown a few glimpses, kicked a couple of goals. It was just about consistency."

He describes that period, and time spent injured, as the toughest he's dealt with in footy.

"Knowing that you're good enough to play, but just not having that confidence Watch and not playing well week to week, that's a downer." 0:00 / 7:48 As frustrated as he was, Armitage said he never considered leaving St Kilda.

"I'd forged some great relationships with the boys here and to this day they've Sporting Chance Nick Quinn and Matt Windley look at the best bets for been really supportive of me. Round 10 of the AFL

"Even when I was right down, not playing good footy and under pressure 1 June 2012 Herald Sun from coaches and stuff, they were still really supportive. Blake Brownlow bombshell "So I never really looked out anywhere. I sort of just said to my manager, 'If

anyone had asked, just don't tell me'. St Kilda had been pretty good with 31 May 2012 2:16 contracts and that sort of thing. "I never really had to go to them and ask - they'd come to me, which was good." Studs and Duds

GREG Armitage, like all fathers of AFL players, is proud. "Obviously myself and my wife and his brother and sister are very proud of him," Greg said. 31 May 2012 6:35

"There's a very small, but dedicated, Aussie rules football community here Pimp My Side and they're also very proud of him. I go to the local footy still sometimes and he's all people want to talk about, and I'm sure the TV ratings go up in this 31 May 2012 5:06 part of the world when St Kilda play. Footy at 4

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/david-armitage-rewarded-for-staying-power/story-e6frf9jf-1226377796253[1/06/2012 11:59:01 AM] David Armitage rewarded for staying power | Herald Sun

"He seemed to have a little bit of bad luck with injuries at crucial times and then with the nature of the St Kilda side, they were up and running and weren't turning over many players. 31 May 2012 3:58

"But he's stuck to his guns and he's starting to reap the benefits." Greg is also a thankful father - to two Brisbane families who gave his son a EXPERT OPINION place to live for a year each after he moved south.

"The Urquharts - their son Gavin is on North Melbourne's list - and Jack Barry and his young family, who was the football manager at Morningside. 10 ways to make footy better MARK STEVENS "Without those families it would have been a lot more difficult transition, I MARK Stevens wants shorter guess, to being drafted. It may never have happened without them. I am matches, a mid-season draft and decent pre-match entertainment. See eternally grateful to those families." Barry said Armitage was never any his full list and have your say. trouble. 61 "He really became part of the family," Barry said.

"We've had other players come in over the years, but he was a gem. Will Cats trade away a star? JON RALPH "He really made the most of his time down here. He never put massive IS CHRIS Scott brave enough to expectations on himself, he took life in his stride, but I think in himself he was trade a premiership star to build for very determined inside and that's obviously helped him get to where he is." Geelong's next flag? It is a question worth asking of the Cats coach.

Ads By Google Jack Trengove stuck in first gear "Shocking" 2012 Horoscope 55/YO Mom Looks 35 Slow MARK STEVENS What Does 2012 Have In Store For You? Shockingly Mom Reveals Shocking Trick for Erasing Wrinkles! Fix A JACK Trengove was recruited as a Accurate. See Free! Doctors Hate Her Solu midfield jet, but statistics highlight his www.PremiumAstrology.com www.MyFundamentalskin.com/AntiAging www battle to find a balance between defence and attack. Comments: Comments on this story Thomas the Pies' tank engine MARK ROBINSON DALE Thomas lifts when it counts, caty of up North how Ivan Maric has transformed the Tigers and all the hits and misses of I have been an Armo fan since he was drafted to the Saints.I used to get frustrated with Ross Lyon for not making him a Round 9. regular in th firsts. Thank God for Scott Watters.He had confidence in Armitage and we get to watch him play every week now.He is a fantastic asset to the team this year!!! 35

Posted at 8:11 AM Today Future is now for hot Bombers SHANE CRAWFORD Show me more comments IF you had been near Kerford Rd beach last Saturday night, you might have gained an insight into why Essendon can win the flag.

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http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/david-armitage-rewarded-for-staying-power/story-e6frf9jf-1226377796253[1/06/2012 11:59:01 AM] David Armitage rewarded for staying power | Herald Sun