CTV > Ben Johnson talks to CTV after training at the GabbaBen Johnson told CTV after training at the Gabba on Thursday that he "can't wait" to take on Brisbane after serving his six-match suspension.
Johnson has been selected for his first game since round 20 last year, when an incident involving Melbourne’s Daniel Bell resulted in a six-week ban for the 155-game veteran.
The 26-year-old pushed himself hard over the pre-season to ensure he didn’t lose any ground on his teammates, and has been rewarded with senior selection at the first opportunity after some strong performances for Collingwood’s VFL team during recent practice matches.
“It feels great. It’s been six weeks… a long time, and I missed the finals last year, so I’m ready to go,” Johnson said.
He admits it was extremely difficult knowing he was always going to miss round one, but also watching the team go so well and so close during the 2007 finals series. The fact there was an entire off-season wedged in the middle of his suspension also didn’t help.
“It actually felt a bit longer, and also missing round one, it was just like a big step all through pre-season because I knew I was going to miss round one, and I played a few ‘twos’ games, so it’s been a long wait.”
Johnson is now fully focused on returning to his best – form that produced runner-up results in the Copeland Trophy in 2004 and 2006 – after a solid, but by his own standards unspectacular 2007 campaign.
First step is to contribute to a victory over Brisbane on Friday night.
“We’re very confident, you’ve just got to look at last week, the boys ran out the game really well.”
Victory over the Lions will be the Magpies’ second-straight triumph at the Gabba after last year’s 33-point round nine success. The 2007 success followed a period of 12 years in which Collingwood didn’t record a win at the venue.
