David Armitage

[yyou]

my vote for the player to from good to great (current term, not career term) in the league this year.
huge steps & real quality.
congrats

 

[John Bonney]

Can play!

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

So he's really stepped up since taking over the duties for Riewoldt

Always been a classic, Rated by the club, not noticed by the general public however

Has had a huge month for St Kilda, They needed someone to step up and he's done it in a big way. Do you think he can keep up this type of impact on games or is it a rare patch of form?

Just a quick check he's top 20 in the league for both clearances/contested posessions

Three top 10 B&F results in his career, all in the last three years. And those were ninth (2012), fifth (2013) and seventh (2014). Pretty modest, considering he's been one of few middle-aged links between the over 30s and the next generation, in a team that's struggled massively over that period.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Three top 10 B&F results in his career, all in the last three years. And those were ninth (2012), fifth (2013) and seventh (2014). Pretty modest, considering he's been one of few middle-aged links between the over 30s and the next generation, in a team that's struggled massively over that period.

He missed about a third of last season with that leg infection he got from that huge gash and then he was played sparingly for the rest of the year. Only averaged something like 67% game time per game for the whole 2014 season when he did play. So to come 7th in the B&F with all that being the case was a very fair effort.

Has genuinely improved every year for about the last 4-5 years and this year he's taken a quantum leap forward in Lenny's absence. Has been massive on the inside but has also added some real run and spread to his arsenal as well. Is getting deep into defence to help out and pushing forward hard as well. Would run through a brick wall if he had to I reckon.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

He missed about a third of last season with that leg infection he got from that huge gash and then he was played sparingly for the rest of the year. Only averaged something like 67% game time per game for the whole 2014 season when he did play. So to come 7th in the B&F with all that being the case was a very fair effort.

74.6%. 63% was his lowest on-field time in the season, in the game in which he was injured and the last game of the season. If we did the top 10 on a votes per game basis, he'd be third. In a team that finished stone motherless. You'll note that we don't exactly see an abundance of articles on the likes of Bernie Vince, Adam Treloar and Joel Patfull's 2014s either. Because they were solid players in ordinary teams, nothing more.

Good on him, but it's not our fault that we didn't pay much attention to him before this year. Because, frankly, he didn't deserve a lot of attention until this year.

 

[cotter101]

74.6%. 63% was his lowest on-field time in the season, in the game in which he was injured and the last game of the season. If we did the top 10 on a votes per game basis, he'd be third. In a team that finished stone motherless. You'll note that we don't exactly see an abundance of articles on the likes of Bernie Vince, Adam Treloar and Joel Patfull's 2014s either. Because they were solid players in ordinary teams, nothing more.

Good on him, but it's not our fault that we didn't pay much attention to him before this year. Because, frankly, he didn't deserve a lot of attention until this year.

Solid? Boy was he better than that. He has been so underrated for a long time now. Couldn't help myself, had to point it out.

 

[Present Not Past]

Interestingly Joey had a break out year when Robert Harvey retired. Can see the same pattern here with Armitage now that Lenny has retired. I guess it's hard when you are in the shadow of such great players.

 

[God Save Max King]

74.6%. 63% was his lowest on-field time in the season, in the game in which he was injured and the last game of the season. If we did the top 10 on a votes per game basis, he'd be third. In a team that finished stone motherless. You'll note that we don't exactly see an abundance of articles on the likes of Bernie Vince, Adam Treloar and Joel Patfull's 2014s either. Because they were solid players in ordinary teams, nothing more.

Good on him, but it's not our fault that we didn't pay much attention to him before this year. Because, frankly, he didn't deserve a lot of attention until this year.

Adam Treloar?! Are we talking about the same Adam Treloar?! We don't see articles on him because he plays outside Victoria, Treloar is a gun.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Adam Treloar?! Are we talking about the same Adam Treloar?! We don't see articles on him because he plays outside Victoria, Treloar is a gun.

If as many of the 'gun' players in shit teams were as good as people seem to think they are, they wouldn't be shit teams.

 

[mysainters]

We need him to be good.

Thats the age bracket that needs to step up.

Glad he realised this.

He, Geary, Steven, Roberton, Delaney...all the age we desperately needed to click.

 

[clivenator26]

Has anyone mentioned the word elite yet?

Would be AA you'd think but those midfield spots are hard to crack.

Reminds me a bit of Swanny, loves a 1-2, works his ass off but isn't as polished as other teammates.

 

[Cristiano Ronaldo]

He's entered beast mode like Ryan Griffen last season or the one before can't remember

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

My boy!

 

[Nutsngum]

Yeah I have been genuinely surprised of his improvement this year. I was expecting him to continue being the "midfield warrior" but he really has stepped up to a new level. Should really be over 150 games now but was barely played 2007 - 2010.

We shall just see if he can keep up this kind of form.

 

[RichoLedio]

It's all in the hips

 

[BomberWatson]

He's been a very good player for several years, has probably taken his game up another notch this year though.

 

[Damon_3388]

Should we really be "surprised" by his development and production? Former top-10 draft pick who has always had talent, is fit and in the prime of his career (25-29 years of age), and is getting more gametime and ever and now the opportunity to be the #1 mid, too (moreso than he would get at a number of other clubs). If he ever had the ability, now is the perfect time to show it.

That's not discrediting his achievements so far this year at all. Genuine quality player who is producing on the back of his own hard work. What I find particularly impressive about him is that he's operating at career-high efficiency with his disposal, while getting more disposals than anyone else in the league, and career-highs in clearances and contested possessions (so not just getting "easy" kicks on the outside, under less pressure).

 

[goodie23]

It's highly unusual for a mid to be a slower burner than the key position players of his draft year (Riewoldt, Frawley) but got to give him full credit. Stepped up magnificently to somewhat fill the void left by Lenny

 

[Plugger35]

People laughed at me when I said Armitage would be a better player than Luke Ball when he left to go to Collingwood.

Fair to say he is playing at a higher level this year than anything Ball managed in his career.

 

[#gosaintas]

People laughed at me when I said Armitage would be a better player than Luke Ball when he left to go to Collingwood.

Fair to say he is playing at a higher level this year than anything Ball managed in his career.

Luke Ball was an out and out gun before he injured his groins - hack after that though

 

[thetradesman]

One of the in form players of the league so far this season.

Would have to be close to leading the brownlow.

 

[Shane_Mag]

Very good ball winner.

 

[Plugger35]

Luke Ball was an out and out gun before he injured his groins - hack after that though

Yeah it was a shame that OP and other injuries prevented Ball from reaching his potential, he just ended up being a good player rather than a great player.

 

[WSmith]

Absolute ripping bloke!!!
Will win B&F this year.

 

[Mofra's son]

Riewoldt enjoys playing with him.

Goes in head first...