‘Be ruthless’: Inside AFL legend’s tutelage of draft bolter as rapid rise turns heads

The premier key forward of this year’s class, Harry Armstrong will have his name called early in the first round on November 20 — and there will be no shortage of suitors for the 18-year-old.

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While he was a member of the Sandringham Dragons’ victorious Talent League side, Armstrong’s season wasn’t a spotless one as he fell victim to injury on more than one occasion.

Speaking to Foxfooty.com.au’s Dylan Bolch, the former Ormond junior reflected on his promising 2024 efforts, “unreal” junior experiences under the guidance of an legendary AFL forward, and the growing external expectations of him.

“Playing footy is always something I wanted to do, but it probably really kicked off around year 10,” Armstrong told Foxfooty.com.au of his footballing infancy.

“I moved to Haileybury and started believing in myself a little bit more, and I thought I was able to potentially make a career out of it.”

The value of Armstrong’s time at Haileybury can’t be overstated, having learned from the likes of legendary Essendon spearhead Matthew Lloyd and Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury.

The tutelage of Lloyd in particular has left a mark on the burgeoning key-position target.

“Haileybury’s been unreal, to be honest,” Armstrong said.

“We’re so lucky to have a bunch of great AFL players as coaches — ‘Lloydy’ (Matthew Lloyd), ‘Pendles’ (Scott Pendlebury) and ‘Hooksy’ (Cale Hooker). It’s pretty unreal.

“I’ve learned a lot from ‘Lloydy’, he’s taught me so much. I’ve gotten a lot from just being around him. Obviously, playing the same position is pretty handy — he always gives me one-on-one advice at quarter time breaks.

“The best piece of advice he’s given me is to be ruthless. Hopefully I can bring some of the traits that he had as a footballer into my own game.”

Armstrong’s Dragons campaign wasn’t always smooth sailing, but he finished it with a premiership triumph all the same.

“(This) year at the Dragons was good — I had a bit of a slow start where I got injured,” he said.

“I played one and a half of the first three games and then went back to school footy. I played a couple of games during the year when I could.

“In the back half of the year, I got to play with a bunch of people who I got to know really well and became good mates with them. Being at the Dragons, you play most of them during the year at school, but it was a good experience to be on the same side as them.

“Playing at Ikon Park for the grand final was great … It was just great to get that win with a bunch of talented teammates. I’d never played in a final like that.”

Armstrong was “disappointed” to have missed Metro’s first game this year due to an ankle injury but “tried to look on the positive side” — and it paid off.

He played the last three games, and they were certainly fruitful, as Armstrong kicked an equal-champs-high nine goals, including five in the final against Vic Country.

“I thought my Metro campaign was pretty good,” he said.

“(In) the first game, I started off a bit slow getting used to the bigger grounds and the pace of things.

“After that, I thought the South Australia game was much better than the WA and then the last game — I thought I was much better than the game before. It was good to know that I improved each week.

“I didn’t have too much of a specific focus on anything. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t get outmarked and (that) I got to as many contests as possible.

“I was focussed on making sure my work rate was high, which gives me the best opportunity to play well.”

Asked to list his strengths as a footballer and the players he models his game on, unsurprising he named three of the best the league has to offer.

“I think my aerial work and athleticism are my biggest strengths as a footballer,” Armstrong said.

“My favourite player is ‘Jezza’ (Cameron), but I quite like watching Charlie Curnow and Jesse Hogan as well.”

The 193-centimetre attacker bagged five four-goal hauls across his final eight matches with Sandringham, finishing with 27.10 for the season.

As a result, he has been the subject of ‘bolter’ hype — something he has had to deal with as draft night nears.

“I dealt with it pretty well, to be honest,” he told Foxfooty.com.au. “I don’t really read it that much.

“I don’t look at it, but you always get your mates showing you it. It’s all positive at the moment, which is nice.

“I’ve probably got a bit more attention through the middle and back parts of the year.”

Staying healthy hasn’t always been straightforward for Armstrong, who, in addition to ankle troubles, juggled a shoulder ailment this year — all of which followed a 2023 season that was dampened by a hip infection.

“I missed the APS grand final (last year) because I was in hospital with a hip infection. That was pretty tough, but I guess it fuelled me to come out strong this year,” he said.

“My support network was great. My parents were really good, and I had a lot of friends come over. ‘Lloydy’ also came over — I was in there for two weeks, so I had visitors most days.

“I felt really sick and couldn’t sleep for a couple of nights with a fever. It was quite serious. My rehab was pretty long but I just used it to motivate me.”

Armstrong was the leading APS goalkicker last year and booted 10 majors in a game this year, exhibiting his competitiveness in the air and mobility around the ground.

In terms of AFL landing spots for the left-footer, Melbourne is considered a possibility with its Picks 5 and 9.

While the Demons will also survey midfield options with one of those selections — likely No. 5 — there is danger in passing and hoping he is still available at No. 9, with Richmond (No. 6) and St Kilda (Nos. 7 and 8) a certainty to at least consider Armstrong.

In any case, a fall outside the top 10 seems unlikely — particularly given Armstrong is a key-position talent on a stark upward trajectory.

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