Bob Armstrong

Arriving at Princes Park from the North Melbourne Juniors, Bob Armstrong joined Carlton during the club's final turbulent years in the VFA before transitioning with the team into the newly formed Victorian Football League. A diminutive wingman standing just 170cm and weighing 61kg, he was a lightly built player who relied on movement rather than brute strength to navigate the heavy grounds of the late 19th century. Armstrong holds a permanent place in history as a foundation VFL player for the Blues, taking the field in the competition’s inaugural 1897 season as the club established its footing in the new league. Although his senior career was brief, spanning just 12 games over two winters, he remains one of the pioneering figures who bridged the gap between Carlton's colonial roots and its modern VFL era.