Armstrong One small step for him or one giant step backwards

Bruce Gonsalves · Joined: 05 Jul 2012

The only way Armstrong got a game is that he must have some photos.

magpieazza · magpieazza Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Location: Griffith N.S.W

Piethagoras' Theorem · the hypotenuse, is always a cakewalk Joined: 29 May 2006

Not much bearing on the result but it was a baffling decision, nonetheless.

mandy · Joined: 03 Jun 2001 Location: Glen Iris

I was surprised he was picked too. I'm not sold on him being able to make it at this level, but his kicking wasn't the worst last night. Seemed to hit a target almost every time.

Duff Soviet Union · Joined: 17 Aug 2010

Boot · Joined: 22 Feb 2013

This was a baffling decision. Tony Armstrong has some skills in disposal and running ability but cannot beat anyone one-on-one at AFL level. At critical moments in the last qrt he was beaten outright in contested balls that cost us badly. Hard to see Collingwood being in contention for the finals if Armstrong is playing for us.. I would mark his papers now as only to play if no-one else left.
I too would have preferred to see either of Marsh or DeGoey play instead of Armstrong.
Marsh is an interesting option; Great athletic ability but questionable disposal skills and decision making is yet to be tested. If he was playing last night I thought he could have had appropriate match-ups in the back-line. He needs to be developed into a running defender capable of stopping small and medium forwards. Ideally has to see himself as the perfect stopper for players like Footscray's Jake Stringer or Eagles Jack Darling. Can we play both Marsh and Toovey in the same team?

roar · Joined: 01 Sep 2004

I have a feeling Bucks realises this was a mistake.

He did have a decent crack so no hard feeling towards Tony, but from now, I hope to watch him in the VFL only.

swoop42 · Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 3:14 pm

Have they ever trialled Armstrong as a small forward in the VFL?

They should give him a chance in another role at that level in an area we are light on for.

Rick · Joined: 11 May 2008

Showed no intent or intensity - something that Seedsman, Williams, Ramsay and Sinclair ooze.

Seems happy to play loose and cruise about.

I hope to never see him again in the seniors, but I think we will.

Dave The Man · Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 4:05 pm

Dave The Man · Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 4:26 pm

stui magpie · Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 6:59 pm

To be totally practical, the coaching staff and selectors have a much better idea of what players are capable of than the supporters do, and a much better idea of what they actually want the players to do.

The fact that they select someone and supporters don't understand just proves that.

Armstrong didn't do great but he wasn't the reason we lost. Our inability through the midfield to stop the overlapping forward run in the first quarter was why we lost.

Duff Soviet Union · Joined: 17 Aug 2010

stui magpie · Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 8:53 pm

No it probably proves that the average IQ of our supporters is in double rather than triple digits. You may well be a case in point.

Of course they make mistakes. Anyone trying to do things will make mistakes.

AN_Inkling · Joined: 06 Oct 2007

Armstrong was actually pretty good. Fasolo the other option is not much of an upgrade if at all, Armstrong is a better user out of defense than Fas. No issues with Armstrong's performance he gave exactly what we expect: good, but not penetrative, ball use and a lack of physicality.

I think the clear move was probably to play Varcoe back and bring in Fasolo, De Goey or Broomhead as a forward. Marsh might have been an option but that would have thrown out our usual mix.

We lost the game in the middle anyway and it's no real slight on us, our midfield just isn't that good at the moment and will be beaten from time to time.