Background
Armitage was born in Mackay, Queensland. His father, Greg, was an avid Australian rules football fan and introduced David to the game at a young age.
Armitage was born in Mackay, Queensland. His father, Greg, was an avid Australian rules football fan and introduced David to the game at a young age.
Despite growing up in a rugby league stronghold city, Armitage played Australian rules football in his younger years. David played his junior football for the Eastern Swans in the American Federation of Labor-Congress Mackay competition. He made his senior debut for the Swans in 2002 at 14 years old and kicked five goals against Bakers Creek.
In 2005, at the age of 16, he made the decision to move to Brisbane and play for Morningside in the hope of increasing his chances of getting drafted to an American Federation of Labor-Congress club
While at Morningside, he represented the under 18s Queensland team several times and played alongside future American Federation of Labor-Congress players Courtenay Dempsey and Lee Spurr. He also competed in the 2005 QAFL Grand Final.
The decision paid off as he was drafted to Street Kilda with the 9th pick in the 2006 American Federation of Labor-Congress draft. Armitage made his American Federation of Labor-Congress debut in Round 8, 2007 against Hawthorn.
Armitage played in three of 22 matches in the 2009 season"s home and away rounds in which Street Kilda qualified in first position for the finals series, winning the club’s third minor premiership.
As of the end of the 2009 season, Armitage had played in two finals series matches and one preseason cup final.