Saint is set for start of season
DAVID Armitage says he is only weeks away from a return to full training after two seasons ravaged by serious injury.
The St Kilda midfielder had his 2017 wrecked by groin issues after spending the previous year playing with a back injury. He played in AFL Round 1 this year and then endured setbacks, surgery and frustration.
Armitage and the club’s doctors ultimately shut down his season to give his groin two months of total rest.
The Saints leadership group member is cautiously optimistic after building up his training enough to be on the verge of a return to the full group.
If the 29-year-old Morningside product can return to his 2015 form he is the perfect addition to the Saints midfield.
“I am going really well,’’ Armitage said.
‘‘I don’t want to say I am flying because it’s a scary injury.
“I thought I was over it midway through the year and it sneaked back up on me.
“But I have had a good five or six weeks of running and am slowly building up.
“I am starting to do agility and repeat speed stuff so I am not too far off getting back with the main group.
‘‘I feel like a new recruit. A year off does that to you.”
Armitage played every St Kilda game of 2016 despite debilitating back issues but had no idea his body was going to let him down in a more dramatic way.
“I played Round 1 and (the groin soreness) came on and I missed Round 2 and three and played four then had surgery a week later,’’ he said.
“The surgery worked, then I started running and it was still there so in another two or three weeks I got hernia repair surgery and then it flared up again. I had to give it three or four weeks of rest and ended up trying cortisone and did a four-six week mini pre-season.
“I played in Geelong in the VFL and pulled up good, then three days later went for a run and it didn’t feel right.
“I tried another cortisone (shot), then with four or five weeks to go we pulled the pin.
“I had eight weeks off completely and slowly built up with weights and bike and boxing and a fair bit of golf and walking. So far, so good.”
Armitage is contracted until the end of 2019, with the club stalwart thrilled at the Saints’ show of faith in extending coach Alan Richardson’s deal.
“I have the utmost respect for Richo,” he said.
He is good for every bloke on the list, he doesn’t exclude anyone.
“He is brutally honest and hugs you when you need a hug and challenges you when you need to be challenged.”