Reefvoice News Pulse English
Reefvoice.com Reefvoice News Pulse
Blog Business Local Politics Tech World

Tony Armstrong: Relationship, Career & Latest News

Noah Jack Brown Thompson • 2026-07-06 • Reviewed by Ethan Collins

It’s not every day a former AFL player becomes one of the ABC’s most recognisable faces, but Tony Armstrong has done just that, moving from the football field to the News Breakfast desk and now into a slate of new projects. In May 2025, he opened up to The Guardian about racism and the changing media landscape, but many are just as curious about his personal life — particularly his relationship with Rona Glynn-McDonald and a bizarre online rumor linking him to Princess Margaret.

Full name: Tony Patrick Armstrong ·
Born: 29 September 1989 ·
Occupation: Television presenter, former Australian rules footballer ·
Known for: Sports presenter on ABC News Breakfast ·
AFL teams: Collingwood, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Current relationship status with Rona Glynn-McDonald as of late 2025
  • Exact net worth and private financial details
  • Detailed family background beyond his Indigenous heritage
3Timeline signal
  • September 2024: Announced departure from ABC News Breakfast (ABC News)
  • January 2025: Premiered ‘Eat the Invaders’ on ABC (The Nightly (news site))
  • September 2025: Screen Australia funded web series ‘Shilling It’ (Wikipedia)
4What’s next
  • ABC series ‘Eat the Invaders’ continues airing in 2025 (Wikipedia)
  • Eurovision 2025 coverage for SBS with Courtney Act (Wikipedia)
  • TV project in development with Hachette Australia (Wikipedia)

Six key facts at a glance:

Label Value
Full name Tony Patrick Armstrong
Date of birth 29 September 1989
Occupation TV presenter, former AFL player
AFL debut 2009 for Collingwood
Known for ABC News Breakfast sports presenter
Podcast The Pool Room

What has happened to Tony Armstrong?

Recent career developments

  • Armstrong left his role as sports presenter on ABC News Breakfast on 4 October 2024, after announcing the move in September (ABC News (public broadcaster)).
  • The ABC (national broadcaster) confirmed he would remain with the network on a new show slated for 2025.
  • In January 2025, Eat the Invaders, a six-part series hosted by Armstrong, premiered on ABC (The Nightly (Australian news outlet)).

Media appearances and projects

  • Armstrong is reportedly set to host Eurovision Song Contest 2025 coverage for SBS alongside Courtney Act (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
  • A web series titled Shilling It, created with Henry Stone, received Screen Australia funding in September 2025 (Wikipedia).
  • He also hosted a program called End Game examining racism in sport (Wikipedia).
Bottom line: Tony Armstrong has successfully pivoted from daily breakfast TV to a diverse portfolio of ABC and SBS projects, positioning himself as a creator and host rather than a segment presenter. For viewers, this means more varied content; for Armstrong, greater creative control.

Is Tony Armstrong in a relationship?

Current relationship status

As of the most recent public coverage in November 2024, Armstrong was in a relationship with Rona Glynn-McDonald, an Indigenous entrepreneur and activist. The couple spoke openly about their bond in The Australian Women’s Weekly (lifestyle publication). Armstrong described meeting her at an EP launch in Carlton, saying, “We literally hit it off, bang, and we’ve been together ever since.” He added, “She’s the best.” No official confirmation of a breakup or new partner has emerged since.

Past relationship with Rona Glynn-McDonald

Glynn-McDonald is a well-known figure in Indigenous advocacy and business. The couple’s public appearances together were limited, and speculation about their current status arises from a lack of recent shared social media posts. Both have kept their private lives largely out of the spotlight.

Why this matters

For public figures like Armstrong, relationship status often drives audience curiosity. The absence of updates leaves room for rumor — including a false story linking him to Princess Margaret — highlighting how quickly speculation can fill a factual vacuum.

The pattern: celebrity relationships often become public property, yet silence can be a deliberate choice.

Are Rona and Tony still together?

Public sightings and social media

There have been no confirmed public sightings of the couple together since late 2024. Neither Armstrong nor Glynn-McDonald has posted about the other on Instagram in over a year, fueling questions from fans. However, both remain active online in their professional capacities.

Statements from the couple

Neither party has issued a public statement confirming a breakup or separation. In the absence of direct comment, media outlets have noted the silence but refrained from declaring a split. The relationship remains officially unconfirmed as ongoing.

The catch

Without a direct denial or confirmation, the question of whether they’re still together may never be answered publicly — and that ambiguity is itself a notable pattern in celebrity privacy.

The catch: without direct confirmation, the public is left with speculation.

Where is Tony Armstrong now?

Current location and work

Armstrong is based in Sydney, where he films his ABC projects and hosts The Pool Room podcast. He continues to appear as a guest commentator on AFL coverage and makes media appearances for his shows. His Instagram feed (@tonyarmstrong) offers occasional glimpses of his work and travel.

Upcoming appearances

  • Eurovision 2025 coverage for SBS (reportedly alongside Courtney Act)
  • Continued episodes of Eat the Invaders on ABC
  • Development of a TV project with Hachette Australia (publishing house)
What to watch

Armstrong’s move from daily TV to project-based content means his visibility will spike around premieres rather than being a daily fixture. For ABC, he remains a bankable personality — The Nightly described him as one of the network’s most valuable on-air talents.

What this means: Armstrong’s career shift reflects a broader trend of media personalities moving from fixed slots to flexible project work.

Did Tony Armstrong love Princess Margaret?

Origin of the rumor

A bizarre claim circulating online suggests Tony Armstrong was romantically linked to Princess Margaret, who died in 2002 when Armstrong was just 12 years old. The rumor appears to have originated from satirical or misattributed content and has no grounding in any credible source.

Fact-checking the claim

Princess Margaret died on 9 February 2002, when Armstrong was a child in Australia. There is zero evidence of any connection between the two. The rumor is categorically false and likely stems from a meme or satirical post taken out of context. No reputable publication has reported it as fact.

The upshot

This rumor is a textbook example of how misinformation spreads: a small, absurd seed finds fertile ground in search queries. For Armstrong, it’s a nuisance; for readers, a reminder to verify before sharing.

The upshot: misinformation thrives in the absence of authoritative correction.

Timeline

  • : Born in Australia
  • : AFL career with Collingwood, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne
  • : Transition to media, various presenting roles
  • : Becomes full-time sports presenter on ABC News Breakfast (Wikipedia)
  • : Launches podcast The Pool Room
  • : Announces departure from News Breakfast (ABC News)
  • : Final day on News Breakfast
  • : Relationship with Rona Glynn-McDonald publicly discussed (The Australian Women’s Weekly)
  • : Eat the Invaders premieres on ABC
  • : Eurovision hosting reported; web series funded; Guardian interview published

The pattern: Armstrong’s career trajectory shows a steady evolution from athlete to media polymath.

Clarity: what we know and what we don’t

Confirmed facts

  • Tony Armstrong is a TV presenter and former AFL player (Keynote Entertainment)
  • He worked on ABC News Breakfast until October 2024 (ABC News)
  • He hosts The Pool Room podcast (Wikipedia)
  • He was in a relationship with Rona Glynn-McDonald as of late 2024 (The Australian Women’s Weekly)

What’s unclear

  • Current relationship status with Rona Glynn-McDonald
  • Exact net worth
  • Detailed family background beyond Indigenous heritage
  • Whether he will continue daily TV or focus on project-based work

The implication: the gaps in public knowledge are as notable as the known facts.

Quotes from Tony Armstrong and others

“We literally hit it off, bang, and we’ve been together ever since.”

— Tony Armstrong, on his relationship with Rona Glynn-McDonald, The Australian Women’s Weekly (November 2024)

“Armstrong would continue working with the network on a new show scheduled for 2025.”

— ABC spokesperson, via ABC News (September 2024)

For Tony Armstrong, the move from News Breakfast to a broader slate of projects signals that his future is in creating content on his own terms. The trade-off: less daily visibility but more control over the stories he tells. For audiences, the question is whether they’ll follow him to new formats. For Armstrong himself, the gamble is clear: bet on variety, or risk being remembered for one seat on a morning couch.

Frequently asked questions

Is Tony Armstrong still on ABC News Breakfast?

No. He left the show on 4 October 2024 to pursue other projects within the ABC network.

What AFL teams did Tony Armstrong play for?

He played for Collingwood, Sydney Swans, Adelaide Crows, and Melbourne Demons between 2009 and 2013.

How old is Tony Armstrong?

He was born on 29 September 1989, making him 35 as of 2025.

What is Tony Armstrong’s podcast about?

The Pool Room features conversations with notable Australians from sport, media, and culture.

Is Tony Armstrong Indigenous?

Yes, he is of Indigenous Australian heritage.

What is Tony Armstrong’s net worth?

His net worth has not been publicly disclosed.

Did Tony Armstrong retire from AFL?

Yes, he retired from professional Australian rules football in 2013.

Related reading



Noah Jack Brown Thompson

About the author

Noah Jack Brown Thompson

Our desk combines breaking updates with clear and practical explainers.