Tony Armstrong (Australian rules footballer)
Tony Armstrong is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Adelaide Football Club, Sydney Swans and Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League. Originally from Burrumbuttock, New South Wales, he was initially interested in rugby league, but turned to Australian rules football, supporting the Sydney Swans. 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.
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. On 16 October 2011 Armstrong was granted his wish and was traded to the Swans in exchange for Lewis Johnston.
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.
At the end of 2013 AFL season, Armstrong was delisted by Sydney Swans and then joined Collingwood as a delisted free agent. He made his debut for Collingwood in round 19 of the 2014 AFL season.
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.
