When Tony Lockett famously booted his record breaking 1300th AFL goal, a young Jarrad McVeigh was one of the thousands who ran from the stands and on to SCG in a bid to get up close to the great ‘Plugger’.

Not so lucky was a nine-year old Tony Armstrong, a huge Swans fan who sat in his seat, disappointed his mum wouldn’t let him run on to the field to join the celebrations.

Armstrong is now one step closer to achieving his boyhood dream of running out on to the SCG with the Swans, after joining the Club during the AFL’s trade period.

The Swans gained Armstrong and two draft picks (35 and 68 which were later used to secure Tommy Walsh) in an exchange with the Adelaide Crows for Lewis Johnston.

A clearly excited Armstrong, told sydneyswans.com.au he can’t wait to get to Sydney and pull on his Swans jumper.

“I’m super pumped. Growing up, the Swans were my favourite team. I used to go to all the games and Stuart Maxfield was my favourite player,” Armstrong said.

“I’m really excited to get up to Sydney and play for the Club I supported,” he said.

Armstrong’s dream of playing in red and white is one that could have been fulfilled a little earlier had things panned out.

The Swans recruiting manager Kinnear Beatson spoke to Armstrong in the lead up to the 2007 National Draft. If he slipped through the draft, the Swans were set to pre-list him as a NSW rookie, as has been done with Dylan McNeil. The Adelaide Crows had other ideas, snapping Armstrong up with selection 58.

Armstrong has spent the past four seasons in Adelaide working hard on his football and at just 22 years of age, he knows his best football is ahead of him. 

“I’m really lucky that the SANFL is such a strong competition. You grow up pretty quickly as a footballer playing in that league, because you’re playing against some guys who are right on the cusp of the AFL, so that is a pretty good proving ground. I was lucky enough to play some senior footy with the Crows and that has helped me a lot as well.

“I’m really feeling good about where my footy is at and feel like I’ve got so much more to give,” Armstrong said.

While Armstrong is grateful for his time at the Crows, as a born and bred Sydney-sider, he is thrilled to be on his way home.

He grew up Carramar in Sydney’s west and his aunties and uncles still live along the North Shore, between Manly and Narrabeen. Armstrong also spent time in Brocklesby and Burrumbuttock in the Riverina, moments away from John Longmire’s hometown of Balldale.

Armstrong’s junior football CV is that of a journeyman. He played with the Liverpool Eagles, Burrumbuttock, Riddells Creek, Assumption College in Victoria where he was boarder, and the Calder Cannons. He was also part of the same NSW/ACT under-18 team as the Swans' Craig Bird. 

While Armstrong says family is the major reason behind his move back to Sydney, it is not the only one.

“Family and also opportunity,” he says. “I sort of see it as a really good fit. I play a little bit more outside, and the Swans have got plenty of hardnosed blokes, so I thought there was an opportunity to slide in there.

“Talking to John Longmire, he made it pretty clear that I was the type of player that the Club was after.”

Armstrong possesses beautiful foot skills and is a good decision maker. He sees himself as a running half-back or wingman.

For the kid who grew up in Carramar and was at the SCG every second week wearing red and white, Armstrong’s arrival at the Swans will be a homecoming in more ways than one.