PULLING ON THE GUERNSEY STILL FIRES FOOTY PASSION

THEY never crossed paths on the big stage but AFL Tasmania workmates Mathew Armstrong and Andy Bennett share something in common – a love for their former AFL clubs that will do battle in Hobart on Saturday.

Armstrong played 177 games for Fitzroy and North Melbourne from 1987-96, while Bennett played 35 games for Hawthorn and St Kilda in 1980-85.

All week the two have been at each other about whose team will win at Blundstone Arena when North Melbourne takes on Hawthorn in the Hawks’ Hobart debut after 21 years playing in Launceston.

Armstrong hopes North Melbourne can repeat the amazing performance that got it over the line in a thriller against Richmond last weekend.

Bennett hopes they don’t.

“That’s the challenge for their young group, to come out and put two good games together,” Armstrong said.

“Both teams have got young coaches, both have got young lists, so for North Melbourne it’s their ability for the players who played well last week to back it up again.

“That is the sign of a good footballer and that’s how you launch your career.”

Armstrong and Bennett did meet on the footy field, when Armstrong was a teenager playing for Hobart and Bennett was the imposing former AFL player captaining Sandy Bay in 1986. “I was young and more worried about myself than anyone else, but I knew Andy was a good ruckman so I just roved off him.” Armstrong said.

Bennett saw an AFL player in the making.

“He was only a 17-yearold kid and full of talent,” Bennett said.

“And it was easy to see he had a bright future.”

North Melbourne holds a special place in Armstrong’s heart.

“It always will,” he said. “I played finals there with them and played with some great players like Wayne Carey.

“It helped me with my coaching years later as well, being under Dennis Pagan and seeing how they went about it as a club, especially coming from Fitzroy to North Melbourne, the difference was phenomenal.”