Matthew Armstrong (Australian footballer)

Matthew Armstrong (born 1 March 1967) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and North Melbourne in the VFL/AFL.Despite missing just five games in the 1996 home and away season he was omitted from the side which defeated Sydney in the grand final.Otherwise he was frequently unnoticed on the field, perhaps due to his relatively short stature or perhaps mainly to the blink-fast speed of his disposal of the ball, usually to great effect.He seemed to show a singular strategic sense and his handspeed resulted in an unparalleled ability to break lines of defence and an uncanny number of plays involving or commencing with him resulted in scoring shots, sometimes several disposals later.This ability was recognized by teammates but often overlooked by coaches and selectors; testified to by Wayne Carey making special mention of the non-selected Matthew Armstrong in his 1996 Premiership Cup acceptance speech.
HobartTFL Statewide1986 national draftFitzroyNorth MelbourneAustralian rulesVFL/AFLTasmaniaWayne CareyTasmanian Devils Football ClubVictorian team1989 State of OriginWACA GroundCollinsDaniherDunstallLangfordLovettMaddenMurphyStonehamWeightmanGogginAblettLambertLarkinMaginnessSchwassStynesWilliamsBreretonLockettMitchellMorwoodPritchardWatson1986 VFL national draftMartin LeslieSteven FebeyRichard CousinsGrantley FielkeAndrew PayzeJohn BrinkkotterJason TaylorDominic FotiaClayton LambMatthew FebeyTrent NicholsMatthew MansfieldBrenton HarrisDavid RobertsonKieran SpornDarrin PritchardAdam GartonCraig KellyChris DuthySimon Minton-ConnellStephen WilliamsJames PykeAlastair LynchDarren JarmanGreg WhittleseaAndrew UnderwoodTony Symonds