DEFENDER Tony Armstrong admits there have been times over the past 12 months he thought he'd blown his opportunity at Adelaide.

The first instance was back in September last year when the 21-year-old was pulled over by police on his way home from a party, and charged with drink driving.

He was eventually slapped with an 18-month driving ban, fined the maximum $5,000 by the Crows and barred from AFL selection for the first four games of this season.

The second time was during the pre-season competition.

Because he couldn't be considered for selection until round six, he was left out of the Crows team in the latter stages of the NAB Challenge, and an ankle injury on the eve of round one limited his preparation with SANFL club North Adelaide.

He was also struggling with personal issues off the field, which were affecting his approach to training and triggered concerns among his teammates and coaches.

In the end, the decision was made for Armstrong to complete all his training with the Roosters, only returning to the Crows once a week for a meeting with football operations manager Phil Harper and list manager David Noble.

"I was a bit down. I had some stuff that happened out of my control off the field and that affected me mentally," Armstrong told afc.com.au.

"I just struggled to reach the standards needed [at AFL level] and I'm the first to admit I didn't handle it very well.

"I didn't go to the right people for help, which was stupid because you have a footy club like the Crows with all the contacts you want in Adelaide and I didn't use them.

"I went back to North for a while and I really tried to start from scratch and get my head in a good place."

A nagging hip complaint further complicated Armstrong's comeback, limiting him to only one appearance for North Adelaide's league team in the opening eight rounds.

The turning point came in round nine when the neat-kicking defender amassed 23 disposals in the Roosters' narrow loss to reigning premier Central District.   

From there, he was able to put several good performances together in the SANFL and by mid-June was welcomed back to West Lakes full-time.
Last weekend, he marked his return from exile, making his first appearance for Adelaide since round 17 last season in the club's win over the Brisbane Lions.

"It was a good reward for my form in the SANFL and it was great by the coaching staff to give me a chance," Armstrong said.

"I thought I'd blown it a couple of times this year, but I think going back to North definitely helped me.

"If I hadn't gone back I probably just would've floundered for the year. I'm not in safe water yet, but I'm just doing everything I can at the minute."

Getting back into the Adelaide team was a goal for the out-of-contract backman, who was facing the real possibility of being delisted after only nine games in four years at the club.

However, his main priority was earning back the respect of his teammates and realising his potential.

"The first day I came back from being out at North, I got up in front of the group, which is something I'm not very good at," he said.

"I told the boys if I could walk out of the club having got a bit of respect back from them I would be happy, regardless of what happens to me as a footballer.

"I just want to give it everything I've got over the next four weeks.

"I don't want to waste it and at the moment I probably have to this point."

The skilful Crow from the town of Burrumbuttock in NSW impressed in his comeback game against the Lions, gathering 19 possessions and seven marks and often being used as the "switch" player in defence.

He maintained a disposal-efficiency rate of 84 per cent during the match, but insisted he could improve his revered kicking and decision making.

"I need to tidy up a couple of kicks and a few things like that. I expect to hit every target because that's the way I've been playing at North," he said.

Each of Armstrong's possessions generated unbridled excitement from Brian Taylor in the Fox Sports commentary box.

"I guess 'BT' just recognises a good player," Armstrong said of the attention.

"No, but seriously BT's eldest son Ryan is my best mate. We went to Assumption College together and spent nearly every weekend there for the best part of two-and-a-half years, so I'm pretty close with the whole family.

"I always smile when I know 'BT' is commentating one of our games because I know regardless of how badly I play he's going to make out like I had 40 touches and kicked three goals."

Armstrong is more settled off the field now than earlier in the season, which he believes has been reflected in his form over the past two months.

The articulate and bubbly character is still suffering the consequences of his serious error in judgment late last year.

He frequently catches the bus to training from the house he shares with his mum, who moved to Adelaide two years ago to help her son combat a bout of homesickness that almost saw him give up his AFL career.

"There's a bus route, so I jump on the B10 quite often and see the same people on there all the time," he said.

"I don't mind it. It gives me a little bit of me time and I can chuck the headphones on.

"You make the mistake you pay the price."
 
Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill