Australian Football

Although standing only 175cm in height, and weighing in at a mere 70kg, Lou Armstrong played a large proportion of his senior football career as a key position forward. He began that career with West Melbourne, and in 1906 was the best player afield as the club scored a 7.8 (50) to 5.9 (39) Grand Final victory over Footscray to clinch its first and only VFA premiership. 

When West Melbourne merged with North Melbourne at the conclusion of the 1907 season, Armstrong crossed to Essendon in the VFL, where he proved himself a highly useful acquisition. Seldom spectacular, he was efficiency and effectiveness personified, and was a key member of the club's 1911 premiership team at centre half forward and the 1912 team at the goal front. A VFL interstate representative, he had played a total of 107 VFL games and kicked 109 goals by the time, midway through the 1914 season, that he transferred to Essendon Association, where he finished his career.

Author - John Devaney