David Armitage ... 'I just had to bide my time and finally it's starting to pay off.' Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP
Rugged St Kilda midfielder David Armitage is off the free agency market after re-signing with the Saints for a further three AFL seasons.
Armitage's deal takes him through to 2016 and means he is set to become a one-club player after he was drafted in 2006.
"Long-term, it takes me to 10 years which is fantastic and I'm really looking forward to try and lead the club through more successful years,'' Armitage said.
However, he admitted he had considered leaving St Kilda in recent years as he was being overlooked for senior games.
"A couple of years ago some people wondered why I didn't leave, but you get to a club and you just form really strong friendships and tight bonds with certain players,'' said Armitage.
"When I wasn't getting a game, you do consider it but I spoke to certain people and they said eventually I was going to play and I had to keep chipping away.''
He said he refrained from trying to pressure stars such as Lenny Hayes or Nick Dal Santo for spots and decided to be patient.
"I just had to bide my time and finally it's starting to pay off,'' he said.
After lining up for 43 of the past 45 games, Armitage has now become an established part of the St Kilda senior team.
He was the Saints' ninth pick in the national draft.
Senior coach Scott Watters said the work Armitage had put into his performance was starting to pay off, on and off the field.
"David is becoming a great example of what really clear focus and hard work can produce,'' Watters said.
"Twelve months ago we set a really clear direction on what he needed to do to elevate his performance.
"He's really starting to deliver strong midfield performances and his leadership is growing on the back of his actions as well and it's a credit to the work he is putting in.''
Armitage, 24, has been elevated to the leadership group and said he hoped he could help guide the side alongside the established stars.
"I've been lucky enough to play with some of the best players in this era ... so hopefully everything they've taught me I can take away and they can rub off on the new group coming through,'' he said.
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