DAVID Armitage's arrival as a regular senior player was a long time coming.
 
It was only last year, his fifth at St Kilda, that Armitage finally became an established part of the team, managing 22 of St Kilda's 23 games, a suspension spoiling a perfect attendance.
 
The stability was a novelty for Armitage had only managed 28 matches in his previous four years trying to break into the star-studded St Kilda midfield.
 
His was a classic case of hard work meeting opportunity. A season-ending knee injury to Lenny Hayes in round two looked to be a severe blow to the Saints but it did put Armitage one rung up the pecking order after what he says was his best pre-season.
 
He eventually drifted forward, booting 12 goals for the year to further emphasise his versatility.
 
Now with Hayes fully recovered and ready to reclaim his position, the competition for spots in the Saints' midfield has heated up.
 
But Armitage is confident he still has a significant part to play.
 
"I slotted in to the midfield for eight rounds or whatever it was,” he said.

“I did my role in the midfield and later on I moved up forward.
 
"This year Lenny will be back and he'll be ready to go. We'll just be rotating through positions and if I can just help him out I'll do my role."
 
Armitage has spent much of the pre-season working on a perceived weakness - his pace. While still unlikely to be a late candidate for Australia's track and field team in London later this year, he says he is already a little more zippy around the field than he has been.
 
"I haven't been shocking at it but it is something I would personally like to work on. I feel that what we have been doing with our leg weights and running that I feel a lot more agile and a bit quicker," he said.
 
But football at the top level is as much about playing to your strengths as it is improving your weaknesses and the 23-year-old is well aware of his bread and butter.
 
"My trademark is going in hard at it. And tackling, as well, is something I pride myself on. If I can get those two things right, that's what I can give to the team," he said.
 
That fanatical pursuit of the contested footy is a trait Armitage shares with Hayes, who is almost peerless within the AFL for his ability to win the hard ball.
 
Armitage freely admits he has tried to model his game on his veteran teammate and Hayes' absence last year allowed him to perform a close mentoring role with the midfielder.
 
He is one of several mentors in Armitage's corner, including new midfield coaches Troy Schwarze and Dean Laidley.
 
Schwarze's playing career at St Kilda came to an end shortly before Armitage's began, while Laidley is well remembered for his seven seasons as North Melbourne coach.
 
Armitage says he had no pre-conceived ideas of Laidley, but has been impressed by what he has seen so far.
 
"He came in and he plays a straight bat, he tells you what you need to work on and what you're already good at," he said.
 
"He's about trying to make you improve as a player to help the team."
 
Not surprisingly, Armitage is just as complimentary of new senior coach Scott Watters for his direct approach.
 
"He's been brilliant. He is a really down to earth kind of guy. He tells you how it is and he tries to help you," he said.

"He talks to you and lets you know what you need to improve on and what you're expected to do in the team. He's very focused."
 
There is a degree of uncertainty in the football world around the Saints following a change of coach and the departure of several senior players. But whatever happens this year, Armitage is sure to once again be a big part of the St Kilda outfit.
 
Luke Holmesby covers St Kilda news for saints.com.au. Follow him on Twitter - @AFL_LHolmesby