COLLINGWOOD midfielder Ben Johnson hopes a self-imposed alcohol ban will see him return to his running best in 2009.

Johnson, whose skinfolds are the lowest they've been in nearly 10 years, is reaping the rewards of his strict new approach to football.

Realising time in the game doesn't last forever, the 27-year-old hopes to shrug off recent disappointment and repay his club for what he says have been two sub-par seasons.

Johnson has played 171 matches for Collingwood since being drafted in 1999.

He only managed 16 senior games last year as injury and fitness ruined his chances of playing any part in the Magpies' September campaign. But Johnson is determined not to miss out again.

"I've wasted my last two years," he told collingwoodfc.com.au.

"[I've] just been undisciplined off the ground and I’m going to dedicate my next four years to footy.

"I've definitely let myself down. [I've] probably let my family, the footy club and my teammates [down as well]. But I've recognised that and I've just got to change it."

Johnson said an end-of-season chat with senior coach Mick Malthouse had played a part in his refreshed outlook.

"It was a very open and honest conversation," Johnson said.

"I've been with him for nine years and I think he said it as a mate as well … [he basically said], 'What are you going to do? Just do something about it.' It was along those lines.

"He's the best like that. He's always been straight up with me, no bull**** and you can't ask for anything else."

While the stinging rebuke he copped from the president about his weight earlier in the year – in front of his teammates – must have also hurt, Johnson knew deep down it was time to act.

And act he has. The rewards of his new attitude to the game have been obvious to those at the Lexus Centre, with the prolific left-footer enjoying his best summer to date.

"My body's never been like this," he said, when the last to leave Gosch's Paddock after this week's main training session.

"I've been off the p***, I’ve given alcohol the boot this year.

"Last footy season I just drank way too much and probably ate the wrong food a lot as well.

"So now I've been off that and eaten well I just feel a lot better … I feel heaps lighter and I'm running better. I just feel healthy."

Johnson said he knew he was heading down the wrong path, and it was one he could no longer follow if he wanted to continue playing at the top level.

"I'm 27 years old now so it's sort of time to grow up," he said.

"You know I used to get away with it when I was 21 to 25 because I was still pretty young.

"But as you get older, you can't really live that lifestyle because it just catches up with you.

"I just wasn't fit and about round 16 when I did my ankle and did my shoulder, I missed probably three weeks and then I just really wasn’t fit enough to get back into the side."