Trapper on the outer at the Lions

[Chelly 810]

Please say it isn't so Vossy - Trapper on Outer. This man is a legend.

Please let him play on!

[gOLLy 401]

Just goes to show how inept Vossy is. Voss as the coach at the Lions is the worst thing ever to happen at the Lions.

Still love ya Trapper!! You deserve better than this.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Well not really. Trapper is done, unfortunately. Doesn't matter how skilled a player is... when you're as inconsistent as he is and you're pushing, or beyond thirty, you're more-or-less finished. Doesn't make Voss any less of a coach. Probably makes him a better one really.

[45HG 1,539]

Johnstone/Wood for Grimes.

KOTD.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Just goes to show how inept Vossy is. Voss as the coach at the Lions is the worst thing ever to happen at the Lions.

Still love ya Trapper!! You deserve better than this.

No it doesn't at all.

TJ was recruited by Matthews and underperformed during his reign. His career is finished and he has himself to blame. Loads of talent but did not use effectively in 13 years of football.

45HG16, clearing TJ was a KOTD moment for MFC. It was the correct decision by MFC and should have happened sooner. TJ's demise has been coming for at least 2 years.

[John Crow Batty 8,863]

Had a very long career despite his deficiencies. Should not be too upset. If he didn't have No 1 draft pick on his resume he would have lasted four or five seasons at best.

[jnrmac 20,058]

No it doesn't at all.

TJ was recruited by Matthews and underperformed during his reign. His career is finished and he has himself to blame. Loads of talent but did not use effectively in 13 years of football.

45HG16, clearing TJ was a KOTD moment for MFC. It was the correct decision by MFC and should have happened sooner. TJ's demise has been coming for at least 2 years.

Two top 10 finishes in the Bluey in his 10 years at the club. It's a damning stat.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Had a very long career despite his deficiencies. Should not be too upset. If he didn't have No 1 draft pick on his resume he would have lasted four or five seasons at best.

The draft pick number is not the issue. He had talent but squandered it and never truly delivered on that talent at 2 Clubs.

Given the criteria Clubs seem to use to select No 1 picks, I doubt whether players like TJ, JFraser and Gardiner would measure up.

[JACKATTACK 17]

I am going to choose to to remember the good things about Trav. Specifically the outrageous kicks that seemed to weave their way through opposition onto the chest of Neita.

[JJJ 1,262]

Spoke to a relatively recently retired Lions player in 09 and he stated that Johnstone would be delisted or traded at the 1st opportunity as Voss hated him. I asked for clarification and he just repeated, "Vossy hates him."

Johnstone was the embodiment of all that was wrong under Daniher.

A healthy Grimes was incredible compensation for such an inconsistent performer.

[jayceebee31 760]

Please say it isn't so Vossy - Trapper on Outer. This man is a legend.

Please let him play on!

I'd say a good ordinary player at best - but certainly not a LEGEND.

[old dee 23,787]

I know he was inconsistant but when on song I loved to watch him.

Still think was the best kick the demons have had in the last 20 years.

Sad to see it end like this, come back to victoria Travis I would go to see him in the VFL!

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Spoke to a relatively recently retired Lions player in 09 and he stated that Johnstone would be delisted or traded at the 1st opportunity as Voss hated him. I asked for clarification and he just repeated, "Vossy hates him."

If you compare the way Vossy played and the way TJ plays its the exact opposite. I have no doubt in my mind that had Voss been coach of the Lions at the end of 2007, the TJ deal would not have gone ahead.

[Dee tention 616]

I could see him playing in a StKilda side. Can run & carry & deliver! He would still be valuable in a good side that will give him protection & space.

[dees189227 12,388]

I dont blame Voss for getting rid of him. He is lazy, frustrating and just waited for the ball and its the best thing we ever did to trade him. Im more impressed with Grimes in his few short years with us then I was ever with Trav. The most frustrating thing with Trav is we all know he had potential but we hardly saw it. Yeah he won a best and fairest but we just never saw his potential enough.

Carlton proved that when they just let him loose in that round 22 game. Im just glad he isnt at our club to drag Scully and Trengove down. Voss wouldnt put up with his crap and I dont blame him.

[e25 5]

Two top 10 finishes in the Bluey in his 10 years at the club. It's a damning stat.

On the club in that time because he managed 2, or on him because he only managed 2..?

Both.

[Bagdana 58]

I am going to choose to to remember the good things about Trav. Specifically the outrageous kicks that seemed to weave their way through opposition onto the chest of Neita.

I too will never forget watching from just behind him on the members wing, those beautifully weighted bullets stabbed just over the fingertips of opposition, only to drop onto the chest of a teammate inside fifty.

Skilled, no question, but FFS, can he at least make an effort to look professional and have a shave? If I was coach, I'd be unimpressed.

[ox_5 163]

I too will never forget watching from just behind him on the members wing, those beautifully weighted bullets stabbed just over the fingertips of opposition, only to drop onto the chest of a teammate inside fifty.

Skilled, no question, but FFS, can he at least make an effort to look professional and have a shave? If I was coach, I'd be unimpressed.

He isn't a high flying executive, what does having a beard have anything to do with his professionalism?

[Bagdana 58]

He isn't a high flying executive, what does having a beard have anything to do with his professionalism?

His long, unkept, neolithic beard, I look upon as a negative reflection of his level of commitment. From most reports I've read on the man, and on the two occasions I ran into him in Melbourne (socially excited and immature), he looked anything but committed. I'm just saying, with tags like his, that style of beard is probably one thing he could do without.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

His long, unkept, neolithic beard, I look upon as a negative reflection of his level of commitment. From most reports I've read on the man, and on the two occasions I ran into him in Melbourne (socially excited and immature), he looked anything but committed. I'm just saying, with tags like his, that style of beard is probably one thing he could do without.

He played AFL. Even a player with average commitment, works harder at it, beard on no beard, than anything I'm ever likely to work at. You can say it's a reflection, but to draw conclusions from it is drawing a long bow. Had he played every game like he did the Adelaide final in '02 he could play with a 2 foot hot-pink mohawk, and I wouldn't care. Though, I know Jaded would...

Am I the only one who can easily look on his career with fondness? He played enough good footy over a decade at the club to be considered our most dangerous player by one of the great coaches in Matthews. Then when the club courageously and wisely decided to let him go we got a first round draft pick, from which we got a player who is odds on to outstrip him when his own career wraps up? We can easily be negative on here, but ten years of ok/sometimes brilliant footy, then a first round draft pick is cause for celebration in my book. Even with the #1 draft pick tag, which the longer I go, the less I care about.

[Triple Jack 13]

Unfortunately Trav fell foul to the culture of melbourne, when he was first picked up. Became Schwartz's favourite gambling buddy, and was protected by all because of his great kicking. These days he would be tested at all aspects of his game at a young age. I feel that if we got a travis Johnston now then he might have turned out a lot better and lived up to his potential

[old dee 23,787]

He played AFL. Even a player with average commitment, works harder at it, beard on no beard, than anything I'm ever likely to work at. You can say it's a reflection, but to draw conclusions from it is drawing a long bow. Had he played every game like he did the Adelaide final in '02 he could play with a 2 foot hot-pink mohawk, and I wouldn't care. Though, I know Jaded would...

Am I the only one who can easily look on his career with fondness? He played enough good footy over a decade at the club to be considered our most dangerous player by one of the great coaches in Matthews. Then when the club courageously and wisely decided to let him go we got a first round draft pick, from which we got a player who is odds on to outstrip him when his own career wraps up? We can easily be negative on here, but ten years of ok/sometimes brilliant footy, then a first round draft pick is cause for celebration in my book. Even with the #1 draft pick tag, which the longer I go, the less I care about.

You are not the only one Dappa Dan. I enjoyed him.

There are few perfect people in the world and he had his flaws!

There have been a lot worse players at Melbourne than Travis.

[Bagdana 58]

He played AFL. You can say it's a reflection, but to draw conclusions from it is drawing a long bow.

Yes, I understand that. As I said in the first part of my post, the boy can play footy and I loved to watch it. I'm just saying, in my opinion it wouldn't hurt to neaten the beard up a bit when people have been questioning his commitment (rightly or wrongly).

I shower before going out to dinner with friends. It doesn't help my conversation skills but it shows respect. That's all I am getting at.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

You can say it's a reflection, but to draw conclusions from it is drawing a long bow.

Agree

Am I the only one who can easily look on his career with fondness? He played enough good footy over a decade at the club to be considered our most dangerous player by one of the great coaches in Matthews.

Fondness? Ambivalence. He was rated dangerous and at times he was but it was too few in delivery. At best he was white hot but he was a frustration with what he delivered below that.

Unfortunately Trav fell foul to the culture of melbourne, when he was first picked up. Became Schwartz's favourite gambling buddy, and was protected by all because of his great kicking. These days he would be tested at all aspects of his game at a young age. I feel that if we got a travis Johnston now then he might have turned out a lot better and lived up to his potential

What rubbish. Trav fell foul of Trav. End of story. He came to MFC with a gameboy attitude and maturity and if anything MFC gave him far more opportunity than others would have given to make it in AFL.

[ox_5 163]

I loved Trapper as a player, amazingly skilled and a deadly kick. But god he was frustrating.

Ripper bloke, still have a training jumper he gave me of his one day that I met him, went out of his way to have a chat and sign any demon gear I had on me at the time.

Favorite memories of him are the final against Adelaide, and his 2 goals against Essendon in the elimination final from outside 50 on the boundary (one the result of Wreckers demolition job on Hird).

Wearing a beard or not he wasn't as professional as we would have liked, the beard made no impact on that. He can look how he wants to look, your looks have zero impact on your footy.