Deck of Dream Team 2012: Tony Armstrong

Name: Tony Armstrong
Club: Sydney Swans
Position: Defender
Assistant Coach 2012 Price: $289,700
Bye Round: 12
2011 Average: 73
2011 Games Played: 5
Predicted Average: 87

Why should I pick him? Firstly, let me tell you who this bloke is. Tony Armstrong was the guy who was quarantined with Richard Douglas back in 2009 when the Swine Flu was swooping over Australia ready to kill us all. After surviving this media hyped up bullshit, he played in 2010 knocking up 9 games for the Crows. In these games, Armstrong showed tremendous DT ability scoring 123 (against the Roos), 89 (Hawks) and 73 (Saints).

Towards the end of the 2010 season, Big Tone got a little loosey goosey… he had a few beers jumped in his car and blew 4 times the limit and found himself suspended by the club, oops. This suspension carried over into the 2011 season where he found himself sober and injury free which led to his first appearance late in the season at round 20. In the next 4 games for the Crows he averaged 85 only to injury himself once again in Rd.24 where he had just 26pts at the time.

This guy has great DT scoring ability and will priced at an average of 73 with a discount as he didn’t play many games. I’m certainly considering this guy… under priced backman who can score with ease are just gold. He’s a bargain but can he…

Why shouldn’t I pick him? … stay fit and under control? Yeah, maybe but this guy is a walking injury and DT headache waiting to happen. David Noble, the list manager at the Crows said this when he was traded/swapped for Lewis Johnston (Sydney Swan, now a Crow), “It’s disappointing for us because part of Tony’s development has been us getting him more stable off-field, which has meant he’s been able to deliver more on-field.” Ummm ok… not something I’d like to hear about a DT player I was considering.

So in the past, the Swans have had a history of turning ‘new’ players into DT gods… or have they? Check out some of these numbers I’ve crunched.

Rhyce Shaw averaged 87 (Collingwood 2008) and 86/69/66 (Sydney 2009-11)
Ben McGlynn averaged 85 (Hawthorn 2009) and 86/77 (Sydney 2010/11)
Andrejs Everitt averaged 68 (WBD 2010) and 45 (Sydney 2011)

Marty Mattner avg. 59 (Adelaide 2007) and 79/72 (Sydney 2008/09)
Josh P Kennedy averaged 72 (Hawthorn 2009) and 74/87 (Sydney 2010/11)
Being the exceptions

Deck of DT Rating. JACK – Armstrong comes with a risk. He is under priced and we have no doubt he can seriously play and score, but will his body hold up and will he behave? Personally, I’ll be watching him carefully during the pre-season as backman will be critical this year after the head aches they gave us in 2011. We have to get this right and picking a dude who carries these risks is not ideal.

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