Sport
Ellie Armstrong ready for special debut for Murray Bushrangers in Coates Talent League season opener
Ellie Armstrong is returning to where it all began.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The 16-year-old gun footballer will line up in the forward pocket in her first game for the Murray Bushrangers’ under-18 girls on Sunday and, fittingly, Armstrong’s debut will be at the same ground she first played on to start her footballing journey – Rumbalara’s Mercury Drive oval.
Following in the footsteps of her brothers, Armstrong first played for Rumba as an 11-year-old.
Now she is set to return to her home club when the Bushies take on Bendigo Pioneers in the Coates Talent League under-18 girls season opener.
After taking part in the pre-season camp, Armstrong was named in the Bushrangers’ final 33-player squad for this season, with her first game now on the horizon.
Armstrong, who plays in the midfield and up forward, said training with the Bushies had been a step up, but she hopes it will pay off on the field.
“I found it hard to get fit, but once you get there, you just keep going. It is hard to keep going, but when you realise what you are doing it for, it is much easier,” she said.
“I’m pretty nervous to see if I am playing or not. Hopefully I can make the side and play well.”
A unique journey and meteoric rise
It has been a less than straightforward journey from Rumbalara to the Bushrangers for Armstrong, but now the sky is the limit for the up-and-coming star.
Following in the footsteps of her brothers, she played for Rumbalara as an 11 and 12-year-old, before COVID-19 put her footballing career on hold.
The pandemic caused two seasons of junior football to be axed and by the time it finally returned, it was too late for Armstrong.
She was 14 at that stage, too old for the under-14 competition – the last age group that boys and girls can play in together.
It wasn’t until Armstrong received a phone call last year that her career was reignited.
Shepparton Swans were looking for fill-ins for their youth girls team, with Armstrong taking up the opportunity.
Her debut was one to remember as she kicked three goals and was named best-on-ground – a performance that earned her a call-up to play in the V/Line Cup the next week.
Playing for Goulburn Murray, Armstrong was again named among the best – a trend that would continue throughout the season.
She starred for the Swans, taking out the club’s youth girls best-and-fairest in its premiership-winning season.
“I got invited to fill in for the Swans. I did pretty well and I got invited to play in the V/Line Cup,” Armstrong said.
“I got best-on-ground that day and I loved playing football too much, so I kept on playing for the Swans.
“I was pretty stoked to win the best-and-fairest. I didn’t know I was going to win it, but I was very excited.
“I was nervous when they were counting the votes because I knew I had a pretty good chance, but I wasn’t sure.”
Her stellar form had Armstrong included in the Northern Country Women’s League’s Youth Girls interleague team and she went on to win the NCWL’s Rising Star award.
Now, Armstrong is set to take the next step in her career, playing for the Bushrangers and Swans in 2023.
“The goal is to win another grand final hopefully, two would be great,” she said.
A love for the game
When it comes to her favourite thing about football, there is one thing Armstrong loves most.
“Kicking goals,” she said.
Her favourite goal came against Shepparton United last year, a 20m dribbling snap from the boundary line that bounced perfectly through the big sticks.
In fact, it was a goal not dissimilar to some of the ones AFL legend Eddie Betts would kick.
Betts is one of Armstrong’s favourite players.
She got a chance to meet and chat with him when he played for Rumbalara last year, with Armstrong one of the water carriers that game.
“I would like to play like Dustin Martin or Eddie Betts. That’s my goal, to be just like them,” she said.
“It was exciting to see Eddie play and see him up close on the field. I got his signature on my bag and I had a good talk to him about football.”
It makes sense that Martin is one of her favourites.
Armstrong said she was a keen Richmond fan, inheriting her Tiger fandom from her dad, Brad.
Brad and Ellie watched Richmond’s grand final wins in 2017, 2019 and 2020 together – well, sort of.
“Dad couldn’t watch, he was too busy crying,” she said joking.
Of course, there is one club in particular Armstrong would love to play for at the AFLW level.
“Richmond, for my dad,” she said.
Moving forward and looking back
The goal for Armstrong now is to do her best to take her game to the next level.
To do that, she said two programs in particular – the Korin Gamadji Institute and Richmond’s Next Generation Academy – had been a huge help.
“Through the programs you learn about nutrition, how to eat right, what is good for you and what is not,” Armstrong said.
“There is football training to focus on your skills and fitness. We also go to the gym and learn workouts too.
“You learn a lot about the steps to make it to the AFL and how to get there and what path to take. You take a lot from it and do your best to try and follow in those footsteps.”
Armstrong also made sure to thank the people who have helped her along her football journey.
“I would like to thank Jamie Atkinson and Phil Guthrie for inviting me to the team and letting me play when I was younger. I feel like I wouldn’t be here without them.”
She also thanked Leigh Findlay and Shepparton Swans for inviting her to the club last season.