Travis Johnstone

[dazzledavey36 53,392]

Dont think people relised yesterday that his career is offcially over.. didn't hit me till then.

was one of the most talented players in the afl when his was in his prime with use but just didn't wanna do the hard work. such a shame it has to end like this coz he was one of my favourite players. his final against the crows that night had me believed he had arrived and could turn out to be a genuine start that we all hoped for.

thanks for the memories

[Red Sox 2]

I'm sure the negatives we are all aware of will come soon, but I share your sentiments dazzle.

I take plenty of great memories from trap.

[e25 5]

I think most of us realized his career was over some time ago, officially or not.

[jnrmac 19,944]

just didn't wanna do the hard work.............

Or shave or indulge in personal grooming....

[Range Rover 1,935]

Some great memories but I think players like Trapper are exactly the reason why recruiters concentrate so much on the psychological attributes of the young draft hopefuls these days. This is not a slight on Johnstone - he's probably a very nice bloke - but they just can't take the risk on the 'laconic' 'larrikin' types anymore, however gifted they might be.

Edited December 7, 2010 by Range Rover

[rpfc 28,084]

As good a time as any to reflect.

Great talent. Really enjoyed watching him when he was on.

Talents I have seen: Schwarz, Lyon, Johnstone, Jakovich, Jurrah. In that order. High esteem.

Best kick I have ever seen, period.

A shame, but an enjoyable one.

[TheOx05 1]

Dont think people relised yesterday that his career is offcially over.. didn't hit me till then.

was one of the most talented players in the afl when his was in his prime with use but just didn't wanna do the hard work. such a shame it has to end like this coz he was one of my favourite players. his final against the crows that night had me believed he had arrived and could turn out to be a genuine start that we all hoped for.

thanks for the memories

His second and third quarters during that game still give me chills. I'm having flashbacks sitting on the fence that night watching Trapper stream out of the centre towards the Punt Road End. He was untouchable and if we got over the line could have been the greatest finals performance since Kouta in 99.

Funny how for a player that played 160 games for us he's best remembered for only 60 minutes of it.

[MelbournePassion 7]

A could of been, should of been, but never to be.

Blessed with such poise and talent.

good luck for the future TJ!

Edited December 7, 2010 by MelbournePassion

[daisycutter 29,451]

Some great memories but I think players like Trapper are exactly the reason why recruiters concentrate so much on the psychological attributes of the young draft hopefuls these days. This is not a slight on Johnstone - he's probably a very nice bloke - but they just can't take the risk on the 'laconic' 'larrikin' types anymore, however gifted they might be.

guess you would have passed on buddy then?

[Geddy Lee 582]

guess you would have passed on buddy then?

I guess you can be a larrikin if you're incredibly tall, strong, fast, agile and possess a 65m left foot punt.

[Range Rover 1,935]

guess you would have passed on buddy then?

Hard to say in hindsight. Richmond did and would obviously regret it. But then again for every Buddy there's a Mitch Thorp, Laurence Angwin or Travis Johnstone.

It's a big risk given how precious a top 10 draft pick has become.

[Sir Why You Little 36,761]

His second and third quarters during that game still give me chills. I'm having flashbacks sitting on the fence that night watching Trapper stream out of the centre towards the Punt Road End. He was untouchable and if we got over the line could have been the greatest finals performance since Kouta in 99.

Funny how for a player that played 160 games for us he's best remembered for only 60 minutes of it.

and in a game during september that we ultimately lost..says it all to me.

It was an incredible game though..Good Luck Trapp

[Guest Guy Rigoni]

Vale Trapper, he would have to be up there with Rivers as my favourite MFC player ever.

The ultimate footballers footballer

[Red Sox 2]

Hard to say in hindsight. Richmond did and would obviously regret it. But then again for every Buddy there's a Mitch Thorp, Laurence Angwin or Travis Johnstone.

It's a big risk given how precious a top 10 draft pick has become.

Trav's 200 games deserve him more credit than being lumped with those two.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

That wasn't a terrible career. If he wasn't a #1 draft pick, we would be saying a big congratulations. Any player you take at pick #1, who wins a number of games off his own boot for you, threatens to win a number of B&Fs, and then you trade him for a first rounder AFTER TEN YEARS!! That's a win in my book.

[Range Rover 1,935]

That's true, poor examples. My point is that you want to give yourself the best possible chance of recruiting a Goddard or Reiwoldt at no.1 He had a good career but never justified that pick.

[rpfc 28,084]

That wasn't a terrible career. If he wasn't a #1 draft pick, we would be saying a big congratulations. Any player you take at pick #1, who wins a number of games off his own boot for you, threatens to win a number of B&Fs, and then you trade him for a first rounder AFTER TEN YEARS!! That's a win in my book.

No it's not.

I know what you are trying to say but I would hope that Scully, Trengove, and Watts achieve a great deal more than TJ.

Edited December 8, 2010 by rpfc

[daisycutter 29,451]

Hard to say in hindsight. Richmond did and would obviously regret it. But then again for every Buddy there's a Mitch Thorp, Laurence Angwin or Travis Johnstone.

It's a big risk given how precious a top 10 draft pick has become.

Sure its a risk, but a big risk? Depends.

Every top 10 draft pick is a risk for any number of reasons

All you have to do is go back thru the top 10 after 5 years or more to realise that

Sure you have to assess the DH factor but you also have to assess whether you think you can "manage" it

You don't just bypass those players, there is more to it than that

And yes sometimes it doesn't work out. This is not a very exact science

[Range Rover 1,935]

Sure its a risk, but a big risk? Depends.

Every top 10 draft pick is a risk for any number of reasons

All you have to do is go back thru the top 10 after 5 years or more to realise that

Sure you have to assess the DH factor but you also have to assess whether you think you can "manage" it

You don't just bypass those players, there is more to it than that

And yes sometimes it doesn't work out. This is not a very exact science

Human beings are fickle, that's true. I just hope out of our 5 very high top 5 draft picks (Watts, Scully, Trengove and Morton) at least two or three become genuine top 10 stars of the competition.

That'll need to happen if we're going to win a flag/s.

Edit: Add Sylvia to that list ...

Edited December 8, 2010 by Range Rover

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Hard to say in hindsight. Richmond did and would obviously regret it. But then again for every Buddy there's a Mitch Thorp, Laurence Angwin or Travis Johnstone.

It's a big risk given how precious a top 10 draft pick has become.

Richmond went for type of player and erred.

Just like they took Fiora over Pavlich years before.

The issue with Buddy was that his character/attitude detracted from his ability. It was the question that held him back from being No 1. His ability was highly rated.

I wouldnt put Trav or Buddy in with an Angwin or Thorp.

The ultimate footballers footballer

Seriously?

That wasn't a terrible career. If he wasn't a #1 draft pick, we would be saying a big congratulations. Any player you take at pick #1, who wins a number of games off his own boot for you, threatens to win a number of B&Fs, and then you trade him for a first rounder AFTER TEN YEARS!! That's a win in my book.

The fact that he was a No 1 pick with outstanding talent that just did not deliver on it over 11 years at MFC. He did not do enough for mine over the course of that time. We got 2 good years 2002 and 2005 out of him. The rest were so-so.

Trading him for a first rounder in 2007 was the win. The career was disappointing given the promise shown.

[daisycutter 29,451]

Human beings are fickle, that's true.

More so elite sportsmen - at least many of them

It partly what makes them different from the run of the mill sportsmen

Anyway, I have a lot more faith in the current FD than previous ones. Lets hope they continue to live up to their improved performance

[Guest Guy Rigoni]

Seriously?

Very much so, he would play well whenever he felt his spot was under pressure, rivalled Chris Tarrant in the who can stay out clubbing the latest before a game stakes and dispite all this, he was still so beloved by Melbourne supporters that the club got threats after he was traded

Edited December 8, 2010 by Guy Rigoni

[jnrmac 19,944]

That wasn't a terrible career. If he wasn't a #1 draft pick, we would be saying a big congratulations. Any player you take at pick #1, who wins a number of games off his own boot for you, threatens to win a number of B&Fs, and then you trade him for a first rounder AFTER TEN YEARS!! That's a win in my book.

TJ finished in the Top 10 in our B&F twice repeat twice in 10 years (1st and 3rd). It's a damning statistic for a guy with such natural talent.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Very much so, he would play well whenever he felt his spot was under pressure, rivalled Chris Tarrant in the who can stay out clubbing the latest before a game stakes and dispite all this, he was still so beloved by Melbourne supporters that the club got threats after he was traded

TJ played well when he had no tag and there was no pressure in the game. His knack for miraculously finding the way to thread through packs morphed into the ability to do just enough without dominating.

And MFC really doesnt need supporters making threats to the Club after he was traded. Dont those people all look a tad stupid then and more so now. There were a number of supporters who realised we have got a KOTD deal trading an underperforming talent with a gamboy mentality for a 1st round pick.

While I can see how you are stoked I am not sure how your explanation makes TJ a footballers footballer. In fact if my good source was correct, none of the players were dismayed when advised as a group that TJ would be traded.

TJ finished in the Top 10 in our B&F twice repeat twice in 10 years (1st and 3rd). It's a damning statistic for a guy with such natural talent.

Yup. And so it is.

[Guest lambtotheslaughter]

TJ played well when he had no tag and there was no pressure in the game. His knack for miraculously finding the way to thread through packs morphed into the ability to do just enough without dominating.

And MFC really doesnt need supporters making threats to the Club after he was traded. Dont those people all look a tad stupid then and more so now. There were a number of supporters who realised we have got a KOTD deal trading an underperforming talent with a gamboy mentality for a 1st round pick.

While I can see how you are stoked I am not sure how your explanation makes TJ a footballers footballer. In fact if my good source was correct, none of the players were dismayed when advised as a group that TJ would be traded.

Yup. And so it is.