St Kilda star David Armitage took the first steps towards putting a frustrating 2017 behind him on Wednesday night, producing a convincing return to senior football in the Saints’ opening JLT Community Series game.
Armitage, 29, was one of St Kilda’s best players in their 22-point loss to Carlton at Ikon Park, collecting an equal team-high 24 disposals, 14 contested possessions, eight clearances and four tackles.
“It was good to be back out there and running around with the boys,” Armitage told saints.com.au following the loss on Wednesday night.
“It took a bit to get going in the first quarter, but after
“We’ve been playing a lot of match simulation at training, but it clearly steps up a notch when you go out and play opposition.”
JLT1 v Carlton - Key Talking Points
After undergoing two bouts of groin surgery last year and months of rest, Armitage has followed a methodical program over the summer months to ensure he arrives at the starting line ready to go this year.
“I’ve had a massive pre-season, but a little bit on the conservative side, so I’m cherry ripe now,” he said.
“I did a lot of work, but on Wednesday’s which are generally lower load days in terms of the kilometres the boys cover, I’d do an off legs session and then have a full Monday and Friday.”
With so much uncertainty clouding him for so much of last year, the Mackay product is glad to put a frustrating campaign firmly in the past and focus on returning to his best.
“It wasn’t like an ACL or something like that
“I had some hope where surgery would fix it and then I’d have a six-week window to get myself right.
“Then I’d come back and it just wasn’t right, have another surgery and the same thing. I came back for a VFL game and felt really good, then three days later the same pain.
“So it was very frustrating. But here we are in 2018 and I’m looking forward to it.”
Can Armitage recapture the form of 2015 that saw him finish runner-up in the Trevor Barker Award and enter
