Tanner Armstrong has become a man of many guernseys in 2026.
The talented defender from Shepparton in Victoria's north started his draft year playing for the AFL National Academy team against VFL sides North Melbourne and Richmond. In one game, he was arguably best-on-ground collecting 27 disposals, seven clearances, six tackles and nine marks.
Armstrong then pulled on the Murray Bushrangers' purple, gold and black for the Talent League, followed by the red, blue and gold of his APS school Scotch College. Having dominated for both, the 177cm hard nut then adorned the navy blue V to represent Vic Country at the national championships.
Armstrong, a Richmond Next Generation Academy member due to his Indigenous heritage, then made his VFL debut for the Tigers a fortnight ago. The 18-year-old adapted to the level quickly collecting 18 disposals and six marks across the halfback flank.
Speaking to Zero Hanger, Armstrong said his mentor and fellow Richmond VFL defender Joel Garner helped him feel comfortable in his first semi-professional match.
"Playing in the backline, with Joel Garner, one of my mentors, so he helped me out with all the structures and where to stand and what to do," Armstrong said.
"Playing against some solid AFL players like Lance Collard, Liam Henry, Anthony Caminiti was down there as well. It is a bit of a change compared to APS footy and Bushys footy, but yeah, it's just pretty much staying to basics.
"Don't give them any spare room otherwise, you know, they can attack at any moment. It is obviously a big difference, but it's just being more aware and being more of a serious defender more than an offensive defender."
Armstrong has been a consistent performer in 2026. Playing for the Bushrangers he has averaged 35.3 disposals, 4.7 tackles and 4.7 marks per game across three matches.
In the national championships, Armstrong averaged 24.5 touches across four games playing against the country's best juniors.
With the national draft approaching in November, Armstrong said he has had preliminary conversations with AFL clubs, while mentors at Richmond give him consistent feedback for areas of growth.
"I've had a couple meetings with other clubs and then with Richmond also," he said.
"I haven't really thought of it much to be honest. You never want to get your hopes up for an AFL draft because anything can happen at any moment. Just trying to keep my head down and play really well for the last couple games and hopefully I don't have to worry about that and get drafted in round one or two.
"Richmond, they just send out the things that they want to see from me and things they want me to improve on or keep working on.
"One of the workers from the football club comes every weekend and goes through vision with me and tells me what I did well the on weekends, what he wants me to, what he wants to see from me the next weekend, and just checking up on me, seeing how I'm going.
"I played VFL on the weekend, so after the game, we had a little meeting at a coffee shop near Scotch. Went through vision and did all the basics and just seeing how I'm going. He's set programs for me for gym, running because in October, the draft combine's coming up and they want me to do really well and test well."
Going through multiple different clubs and representative teams poses the problem of receiving different advice on how to play from a variety of voices.
However, no matter the team or level, Armstrong said the feedback he has received throughout the year has been consistent, allowing for him to focus on particular points.
Throughout the year, Armstrong has been stationed across the halfback flank having played through the midfield for the majority of his junior years.
While he hopes his mobility in defence, midfield and half forward will help him get drafted, Armstrong said he is looking to follow in the career footsteps of a superstar.
"Through the champs and the VFL I played a lot down back, pretty much every single game. But then through APS and Bushies, et cetera. I played through the midfield," he said.
"If I was to get drafted, I would go into an AFL team playing as a defender. I think developing off the halfback flank is a really good way to develop into a midfielder.
"Which is what like Nick Daicos did and Liam Baker, so all them boys started as defenders off the halfback and then once they had more experience and developed through the VFL systems, they end up playing midfield.
"I think hopefully, if I get drafted, playing down back isn't too bad of a choice and to also be versatile is really good towards clubs. Clubs want to see draftees that can play all around the ground and not just one position.
"I think it's really good to have that under my belt, to be able to be versatile and go through the backline or the midfield or even the forward line at some point."
The AFL's addition of another Category B rookie list spot for Indigenous and First Nations players opens another avenue for Armstrong to be picked up at the end of the year.
