HE MIGHT be only a few seasons away from being considered aveteran, but 150-gamer Ben Johnson is hungrier than ever.

Johnson is currently in contract negotiations to secure anew deal with the Pies, and he says it’s only as you get older that youappreciate the big occasions, like Collingwood’s two grand final losses in 2002and 2003.

“As you get older you realise how important those gamesare,” Johnson told collingwoodfc.com.au.

“I was 21 and 22 when we played in those finals, and as ayounger bloke you don’t appreciate it as much. As you get older you want iteven more.”

Last weekend Johnson notched up his 150th game for the Pieswhen they took on the Cats at the MCG. He ran onto the field with his nephewLuke, who you might expect to be a big fan of his famous uncle.

“He actually barracks for Hawthorn because his old man isHawthorn,” Johnson says.

“The next day he was saying he was a Pies’ supporter, butI’m sure his old man will try to change that.”

Johnson himself took his milestone game in his stride andjust wishes that his side could have achieved a win against the table-toppers.

“[The milestone game] was probably a bigger deal for yourparents and girlfriend. They were more excited than I was. I think my mum anddad did get a little bit emotional when my nephew ran out through the bannerwith us,” he says.

Now in his eighth season at the club, Johnson has begun toconsider what the future might hold.

“Each year footy goes quicker as you get older. I turned 26this year and I feel like an old man. If you really think about it, I mightonly have five years left. Players who play over 30 are doing really well. If Icould play a couple of years over 30, that would be great.”

In 150 games, Johnson has had his share of off-field dramas,but believes he’s a better person because of his troubles.

“It’s made me wiser,” he says. If you do stuff up the mediawill just hammer you. I suppose it’s made me grow up a little bit and realisethat I am under the spotlight.”

At Collingwood, of course, he’s not the only onewell-scrutinised, and Johnson says he’s noticed other consequences of playersbeing in the spotlight. For one, many younger players are still holding on totheir mid-season tans in the middle of winter.

“There’s a few boys at our club that are flat-out into thesolarium and stuff. They worry a lot about how their bodies look,” Johnsonsays with a laugh.

Regardless of their cosmetic regimes, Johnson ranks thecurrent Collingwood list highly.

“I think this year we’ve as good a chance [of a Premiership]as any year I’ve been at the club,” he says. “But we’ve still got a long way togo.”