Is Armo Cooked?

[mad-saint-guy]

David Armitage arrived at St Kilda after being taken at pick 9 in the 2006 draft and struggled for senior games during his mandated 'four-year apprenticeship' under Ross Lyon (despite being BOG in his 17th game in a gusty 2009 win over Hawthorn in Tasmania). He watched on from the VFL in our Grand Finals years while the seasoned guns Andrew McQualter, Brett Peake, Clint Jones and Robert Eddy tore it up in the midfield before finally breaking into the regular team in 2011 after Eddy got the boot. He was a mainstay in the seniors and steadily built his form each year before exploding and producing a stellar 2015 season in which he was arguably unlucky not to take out our B&F and win AA honours. However 2016 saw a significant dip in form for Armitage, particularly in the second half of the season. And after some underwhelming form at the beginning of 2017 he has succumbed to injury and doesn't have a clear timeframe for his return. This combined with the continued improvement of Seb Ross, the strong form of new recruits Jack Steele and Koby Stevens and Jack Sinclair's impressive return to the seniors leaves me wondering if there is going to be a place in our 22 for Armitage going forward. He is almost 29 and by all reports has a chronic, debilitating back condition as well as a serious groin injury which is currently keeping him out of the side. His break out year in 2015 was largely a result of a newfound running power which came on the back of a great pre season and he clearly isn't going to have that leg up at any point this year, and bad backs don't generally get better as your approach your thirties as a professional athlete.

Personally I don't see Armo pushing past Steele, Stevens and Sinclair to reclaim his permanent midfield spot. I'd love to be wrong and see him get back to his best, but given his history and his age I can't see it happening. Most midfielders play until they are 31-33 so that would give Armo another 2-5 years, but I wonder whether the coaches are planning for Armitage to be part of our finals push over the next few years. If not, should he be kept on the list next year and beyond?

 

[Impatient Saint]

He is obviously highly regarded within the club - but I think you are correct. He has always struggled with the speed of the game and like Dunstan he might be a victim of our depth. Depending on trades it wouldnt surprise if this is his last year in Saints colours.

 

[puppy_dog7]

I don't know if he is "cooked" but he would certainly have to come back fully fit and earn his spot back in the side after a stint in the VFL.

To be honest. In my personal opinion, I feel if Steele and Stevens keep their form up, then I'd rather them in the team than Armo. And I don't think we can play all of Steele, Ross, Stevens and Armo in the same team.

 

[freebloke]

Said it earlier as well... peaked, and done. It's a pretty steep decline for him and he's lucky that he's contracted to 2018. I think it ends for him there.

Had an ordinary 2016, and after a supposedly great pre season, he's been down on form, and injured again at 29. Deledio type decline after injuries...

 

[CALL ME SNAKE]

When his body is right he is in our best 22 no problem IMO . When fully fit he is a very good footballer.
Unfortunately he has struggled to get his body at full fitness during quite a few seasons.

 

[bird_man]

If we recruit as well as we expect this year, he's a depth player at best. I'd prefer our depth players to be on the younger side with plenty of footy ahead of them.

We won't get anything for him but he'd be one of the first I'd be looking at to free up an important list spot.

 

[The Enemy Within]

Armo would be a good fit for a side like Brisbane they are crying out for an experienced big body midfielder we might get a 2nd rounder for him with a swap of picks going their way.

 

[Flandersss]

Armo would be a good fit for a side like Brisbane they are crying out for an experienced big body midfielder we might get a 2nd rounder for him with a swap of picks going their way.

 

[tubthumper]

Way too early to be writing him off imo.
Id count on him bouncing back especially now that his back issues are now apparently sorted.
Providing he can overcome the current groin injury, I don’t see any reason why he can’t get back to career-best form after a promising pre-season and JLT series.

 

[Half Back Pocket]

Contracted til 2019

 

[Moral Decay]

It all comes down to his body, has he been right since mid 2015? Probably not. If he get back pain free he can be very good, but can he?

 

[Glen Buterol]

Contracted til 2019

FMD the campaigners done a number on us

 

[GTrains Mullet]

FMD the campaigners done a number on us

Could we off load to Brisbane / Gold Coast, paying a fair chunk of his salary?

 

[Rors]

FMD the campaigners done a number on us

He's contracted to the end of 2019

 

[Glen Buterol]

Could we off load to Brisbane / Gold Coast, paying a fair chunk of his salary?

That would be the only option if we were to trade him. Pay half his wage, get pick 80 or so for him.

 

[majortinkle]

Could we off load to Brisbane / Gold Coast, paying a fair chunk of his salary?

I'd wager that the publicising of his back being akin to a 70 year olds means he is untradeable.

 

[VDS66]

Hate to say it but given the past few weeks. Koby brings more to the team.

We are pretty much past the stage where we have to rush players back due to lack of depth.

So it must likely comes down to how he performs upon return.

Also depends on who we trade in. If he isn't guaranteed a game next year, I suspect the club will do anything to help him find a new home, should he not want to play at Sandy.

He deserves that respect imo. What we may or may not get in return is irrelevant.

He's either part of the plan or you do the right thing by him.

Edit: we could do a lot worse than putting him the forward pocket for a few years.

 

[TastetheBeast]

The campaigner simply needs to get a hair cut to regain form.

What the **** is that? Country boy trying to rock a city slicker do and it aint working...

2015, Shaved head. Nuff said!

 

[Mowman]

I Hope not he has been a solid player for us, I just dont see how Dunstan and Armo can play in the same team again. I know its only a small sample size but we look much better with Stevens and Sinclaire in the side

 

[Saintbloke]

Gone as a mid, but could be a handy half forward?

 

[freebloke]

Gone as a mid, but could be a handy half forward?

He'll have to get in line behind

Gresham
Weller
Billings
Long
Michington
Wright

The only positive for a half forward is that he can take 3-4 marks a game offset by a lack of pace.

 

[Mowman]

He'll have to get in line behind

Gresham
Weller
Billings
Long
Michington
Wright

The only positive for a half forward is that he can take 3-4 marks a game offset by a lack of pace.

Can you really play in any position anymore with a lack of pace, most sides set up with quick half backs who would just run of blokes like Armo & Dunstan all day.

 

[STK2020]

 

[VDS66]

If Armo is cooked then Dunstan is over done.

 

[austinnn]

If Armo is cooked then Dunstan is over done.

Maybe Dunstan isn't at Armo's best level yet, but he's got time to improve. Dave has run out of time, and chances. At the end of this year if he hasn't had a few games at his 2015 level, he will be out, if we are serious.