BY HIS own admission, David Armitage found it hard adjusting to the discipline and demands of being an AFL footballer.

After he was drafted by the Saints from Queensland with pick nine in the 2006 National Draft, Armitage soon realised he had to curb his social activities if he was going to make the most of his AFL career.

"I used to go out a bit back home when I was playing local footy but when you get here you can’t do that," he said.

"It’s up to you if you want to have a drink or not but you’ve got to ask yourself if it is going to help your footy. You have to be disciplined in everything really. Once you figure that out, you’re sweet.

"It’s tough – just getting to know the ropes and what your body’s capable of. Sometimes you can go to bed a bit late but you just need to know how the body works and what you can and can’t do after hours."

One man helping Armitage learn the commitment required at AFL level is midfielder Luke Ball, who has taken the 19-year-old under his wing.

Armitage says his former captain’s advice has been invaluable.

"Bally tries to get to as many VFL games as he can to watch me," Armitage said. "He comes out to the huddle and tells me what I’m doing right and what I can improve on.

"I’ve been working closely with him which is a good thing and he has helped me a lot. He’s a great workhorse and an inside midfielder which is what I want to be."

Armitage is in line for senior selection after showing good form early in the year with the Casey Scorpions and knows the Saints coaching staff has high expectations of him in his second season.

"In the pre-season they are out there, every run you are doing they are urging you on saying ‘Beat him, he’s taking your spot’. They knew what they could get out of me," he said.

"Last year I don’t know how often my name would come up at selection meetings but this year I’m being considered for selection a lot more."

Armitage was a member of the Saints side that won the NAB Cup against Adelaide and while he had a quiet game personally, he says he benefitted from the experience.

"I didn’t play that well but the team did and we scraped through," he said. "We didn’t expect to win all those games but we didn’t give up and stuck to our trademark. It was a big buzz."

Armitage is one of several young Queenslanders at the Saints, which made the transition to Melbourne a lot easier for him.

"There’s Brad Howard and Sam Gilbert who I played junior footy with and against," he said. "It’s good to know when you come to the club that you can talk to them and get to know a bit about it."

The bond with his fellow banana benders has helped allay any thoughts of returning home, which may be an opportunity presented to him when the Gold Coast introduces a new AFL team in 2011.

"I’m quite happy with the Saints but you never know what will happen in two years. You’ve just got to stick where you’re at," he said.

"I think it’s a good idea to have extra teams on the Gold Coast. It gives a lot more opportunity to the football world. It’s a massive network up in the south-east [of Queensland] and I think it will be successful."