Kalamunda taking giant leaps with Armstrong
"Football is in our blood." As far as understatements go, this one by Gary Armstrong ranks highly.
Armstrong, coach of Kalamunda in the WA Amateur Football League A Grade, is one part of a family whose contribution to WA football ranks highly.
And he doesn't rest on his laurels. He has led Kalamunda into A Grade for the first time after his team dominated B Grade last year, and the Hills team is making a great fist of their debut season in the top echelon.
They are second on the ladder with two cracking wins in the first three rounds.
Among his 25 years of coaching, Armstrong coached Perth in the WAFL in 1999 and 2000 - following in the footsteps his legendary father Ken - and he is into his ninth season in charge of Kalamunda.
He has a couple of handy players at his disposal, including his son Steven.
West Coast premiership player Steven Armstrong is still only 30 and his experience from his seven seasons in the AFL - four with Melbourne and three with the Eagles - and several others in the WAFL is certainly benefiting Kalamunda.
He won the club's best and fairest in the past two seasons. He is also coaching Subiaco colts.
Gary's youngest son, John, plays for Kalamunda and coaches the club's colts. Gary's sister Tanya is a long-time television commentator on the AFL and WAFL.
Gary Armstrong says Kalamunda, who beat finals fancy Mt Lawley by 64 points at Hamer Park last Saturday, are not in it to make up the numbers and be an easybeat from B Grade.
"We set the bar pretty high," he said. "We want to be known as a threat in the competition."
Though Kalamunda lost in round one, they made a statement in round two by beating perennial finalists North Beach by 33 points before their demolition of Mt Lawley.
University, however, are shaping as the team to beat for the 2014 premiership. They thrashed Trinity Aquinas on Saturday and are the only undefeated team.
Round 3 scores
A Grade
West Coast Cowan 10.7 (67) d Wesley Curtin 9.12 (66)
Swan Athletic 11.9 (75) lost to Whitford 14.11 (95)
Mt Lawley 4.15 (39) lost to Kalamunda 15.13 (103)
North Beach 10.8 (68) lost to Fremantle CBC 13.12 (90)
University 14.11 (95) d Trinity Aquinas 7.6 (48)
B Grade
Bull Creek Leeming 7.14 (56) lost to Wanneroo 11.7 (73)
Willetton 8.8 (56) lost to Hamersley Carine 16.12 (108)
North Fremantle 18.16 (124) d Collegians 10.7 (67)
Wembley 13.8 (86) d Maddington 7.5 (47)
Scarborough 11.7 (73) lost to Kelmscott 14.4 (88)
