When country boys Tony Armstrong and Ben Reid struck up a friendship as football-loving teenagers, they never anticipated that they would reunite on an AFL list almost a decade on.

Nor did Armstrong imagine it would happen only days after representing the Indigenous All-Stars against Ireland in an International Rules Series.

It’s safe to say that the past few weeks have been a whirlwind for the man Collingwood recruited last week as a delisted free agent.

“Ben Reid and I have known each other for about 10 years now,” Armstrong told CTV.

“We played in the Ovens and Murray schoolboys team which is the feeder to the Murray Bushrangers in the under 15s.

“Ever since then we’ve stayed pretty close and when we were about 14 or 15 we used to always talk about, you know, image if we could end up at the same club. It’s taken its time but it’s awesome.

“We’re both chuffed – I am, especially – and it’s good to be back with him.”

Their friendship has enabled Armstrong to get settled in Melbourne from the moment he arrived – literally – after a day-long drive from Sydney to Melbourne.

“It was a pretty long drive, I’m still on Europe time because I only got back on Sunday night,” Armstrong said.

“I got a little bit tired halfway and had a two hour powernap which ended up getting me in at midnight but Reidy was good enough to stay up for me and I’m bunking with him until I find a place with a few of my schoolmates from Assumption College. I’m looking forward to that.”

On football-related matters, Armstrong produced two years of consistent form for Sydney’s reserves in the NEAFL but was unable to become a regular in a side that reached a Grand Final and a Preliminary Final during his stay.
“It’s been an interesting couple of months,” he reflected.

“Towards the back end of the year I kind of saw the writing on the wall at Sydney so I got my manager to express some interest to move on,” he said.

“I came down here and had an interview with Collingwood and Nathan Buckley, Rodney Eade and Derek Hine and that went really well. There was some positive feedback there and there was a contract put on the table and everything was agreed to but I obviously had to wait.”

There had been talk throughout the October trade period that suggested Armstrong would join Jesse White in a trade to the Westpac Centre.

Instead, he was forced to endure a nervous wait on the other side of the world while representing the Indigenous All-Stars against Ireland.

“Towards the back end of that, the trade never eventuated so it was a couple of shaky days there but luckily with the free agency I was able to make my way over here.”



Tony Armstrong takes in his new surrounds at the Westpac Centre on his first day at the club. Photo: Collingwoodfc.com.au

The 24-year-old admits his career had reached “the crossroads” after playing a total of 29 games across six seasons with Adelaide and Sydney.

“I was definitely at the crossroads, for sure. I felt like I could have gone one of two ways and I’m just very grateful and thankful for the opportunity here at Collingwood.

“Their underlying message (from the coaches) was that I will get out what I put in.

“There’s obviously opportunity there. There’s been a bit of turnover and the club has been a very big player in the trade and free agency period.

“The opportunity is there but Bucks said you will reap what you sow.

“As long as I’m putting in, I’ll get a fair bit back.”