Tony Armstrong (Australian rules footballer)

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Tony Armstrong
Armstrong training 03.jpg
Armstrong training with Collingwood in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth (1989-09-29) 29 September 1989 (age 32)
Place of birth Albury, New South Wales
Original team(s) Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock (Hume Football League)
Calder Cannons (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 58, 2007 National Draft, Adelaide
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 72 kg (159 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2010–2011 Adelaide 14 (0)
2012–2013 Sydney 15 (2)
2014–2015 Collingwood 06 (0)
Total 35 (2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2015.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Tony Armstrong (born 29 September 1989) is a journalist and former professional Australian rules footballer.[1] Tony played for the Adelaide Football Club, Sydney Swans and Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

He is currently sport presenter of the ABC's morning program News Breakfast

AFL[]

Originally from Burrumbuttock, New South Wales and of Barrabinya descent, Armstrong was initially interested in rugby league, but turned to Australian rules football, supporting the Sydney Swans.[2] Armstrong was drafted by Adelaide in the 2007 AFL Draft at pick number 58.

Armstrong attended prestigious football school Assumption College, and also played games with TAC Cup sides NSW/ACT Rams and Calder Cannons. After being drafted, he played for SANFL club North Adelaide, and after some fine performances, was rewarded by Adelaide coach Neil Craig with many emergency spots in the lineup. He was named for his AFL debut in round 13, 2009, but was quarantined along with his housemate, teammate and fellow Assumption College graduate Richard Douglas due to a swine influenza scare, and so did not take his place on the field.

Armstrong debuted in the senior side in Round 1, 2010, against Fremantle at Subiaco.[3]

In September 2011, Armstrong walked out on the Adelaide Crows and requested a trade to the Sydney Swans, the club he supported as a child growing up in NSW.[4] On 16 October 2011, Armstrong was granted his wish and was traded to the Swans in exchange for Lewis Johnston.[5]

In April 2012, he made his debut for the Swans; he replaced club captain Adam Goodes, who was suspended for the match. Goodes was one of Armstrong's childhood idols.[6]

At the end of 2013 AFL season, Armstrong was delisted by Sydney Swans and then joined Collingwood as a delisted free agent.[7][8] He made his debut for Collingwood in round 19 of the 2014 AFL season.[9]

Armstrong was delisted at the conclusion of the 2014 AFL season but was re-drafted by Collingwood in the rookie draft. At the conclusion of the 2015 season, after only playing one senior game, Armstrong was again delisted by Collingwood.[10][11]

Media[]

In March 2020, Armstrong began hosting the show Yokayi Footy, a collaboration between NITV and the AFL.[12]

In June 2020, Armstrong joined ABC as a producer and presenter of sports news on ABC Radio and Television presenting sport on ABC News, commentating for Grandstand AFL on ABC Sport and hosting the summer series of Offsiders.[13][14]

In March 2021, ABC announced that Armstrong would fill in for Paul Kennedy on ABC TV's News Breakfast presenting sport from Tuesday to Friday for 3 months whilst Kennedy works on ABC's 7.30. Catherine Murphy presented sport on Monday. In July 2021, Armstrong was appointed as sport presenter on News Breakfast replacing Kennedy.[15]

In November 2021, ABC announced that Armstrong would host A Dog’s World on ABC TV, a three-part series that seeks to understand our ever-evolving relationship with dogs.[16]

Armstrong also regularly appears on Network 10's The Project.

Personal life[]

In September 2010, Armstrong was caught by police drink driving at over four times the legal limit. He had his driver's licence suspended for one year and his car was impounded. Additionally, the Adelaide Crows fined him $5,000 and suspended him for four matches.[17][18]

References[]

  1. ^ "'I failed but I'm fine': Tony Armstrong's road from AFL player to successful broadcaster and swoon-worthy bad news man". the Guardian. 17 July 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. ^ "NAB AFL Draft Camp: Running solo". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 26 September 2009.
  3. ^ "Crows must be like the tortoise". Adelaide Independent Weekly.
  4. ^ Capel, Andrew (24 September 2011). "Strike three as Crows lose Armstrong". The Advertiser. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  5. ^ "Swan Lewis Johnston, Crow Tony Armstrong swap clubs". Herald Sun. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  6. ^ Forsaith, Rob (22 April 2012). "Tony Armstrong to play his first game as a Sydney Swan". The Sunday Telegraph. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  7. ^ "Tony Armstrong clear to join Collingwood after being cut by Sydney Swans". Herald Sun. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  8. ^ Rielly, Stephen (7 November 2013). "Armstrong becomes a Magpie". Collingwoodfc.com.au. BigPond.
  9. ^ Buckle, Greg (1 August 2014). "Armstrong to make debut for third AFL club".
  10. ^ Guthrie, Ben (31 October 2014). "Pies cut Armstrong, but promise to re-draft him". Collingwoodfc.com.au. BigPond.
  11. ^ "Rookie Draft: Tony Armstrong". Collingwoodfc.com.au. BigPond. 3 December 2014.
  12. ^ "Introducing 'Yokayi Footy': NITV & the AFL kick off a new football show". SBS. 5 March 2020.
  13. ^ "ABC Sport recruits Tony Armstrong". About the ABC. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  14. ^ "ABC Sport recruits Tony Armstrong". ABC. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  15. ^ "ABC announces new roles for Paul Kennedy and Tony Armstrong". Mediaweek. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Tony Armstrong, Pistol and Boo and a real-life fairytale: the ABC unveils 2022 lineup". the Guardian. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Young Crow caught driving four times over legal alcohol limit". The Age. 17 September 2010.
  18. ^ "Crows' Armstrong banned for drink-driving". ABC News. 2 November 2010.

External links[]

Media offices
Preceded by News Breakfast
Sport presenter
July 2021 – present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Retrieved from ""