festa1234
All Australian
Johnstone says facilities cost Dees flag
Craig Hutchison | April 06, 2008 12:00am
He said the move had revitalised his career and that while he loved Melbourne, he had been disappointed at how his career ended with the Demons.
"It does take its toll," Johnstone said of the lack of elite training facilities at Melbourne.
"What we did when we were there - making finals - I think those little bit extras, like the facilities and a home base, put that extra 5 per cent into a team. We should have won a Grand Final.
"I remember speaking to 'Neita' (David Neitz) about it. It was amazing what we achieved given the conditions.
"We did a great job given everything and we could have won a premiership. A few people say it doesn't make a huge difference, but I think it does, especially recovery.
"Just through your pre-season you don't have to drive out from Bulleen to Albert Park beach after recovery after training and then go back to the club.
"We train here (at the Gabba) and we have all the recovery here. There's no travelling to go somewhere else to do it. I think it takes its toll in the long run."
He said while he endorsed his move to Brisbane, he had been surprised to be offered for trade.
"I probably would have preferred a bit more honesty from Melbourne - you know they were pretty blase about it all," Johnstone said.
"I spoke to Dean Bailey just before the footy trip and he was like, 'we want to play you half-back'.
"I actually spoke to a few people after that and I said, 'this is what he is thinking of doing' and they said, 'that will be perfect for you'.
"All of a sudden it came up that they were going to off-load me and that was probably my main issue with the club - not the honesty."
im not sure if it cost us a flag whats everyone thoughts
Craig Hutchison | April 06, 2008 12:00am
- Email article
- Share Add to Digg Add to del.icio.us Post to NewsVine Post to Facebook What are these?
- Printer friendly
- Text size+-
- FORMER Melbourne star Travis Johnstone has a taken a pot shot at his former club for a lack of honesty, and says the Demons' lack of training facilities may have cost them a premiership during the past decade.
He said the move had revitalised his career and that while he loved Melbourne, he had been disappointed at how his career ended with the Demons.
"It does take its toll," Johnstone said of the lack of elite training facilities at Melbourne.
"What we did when we were there - making finals - I think those little bit extras, like the facilities and a home base, put that extra 5 per cent into a team. We should have won a Grand Final.
"I remember speaking to 'Neita' (David Neitz) about it. It was amazing what we achieved given the conditions.
"We did a great job given everything and we could have won a premiership. A few people say it doesn't make a huge difference, but I think it does, especially recovery.
"Just through your pre-season you don't have to drive out from Bulleen to Albert Park beach after recovery after training and then go back to the club.
"We train here (at the Gabba) and we have all the recovery here. There's no travelling to go somewhere else to do it. I think it takes its toll in the long run."
He said while he endorsed his move to Brisbane, he had been surprised to be offered for trade.
"I probably would have preferred a bit more honesty from Melbourne - you know they were pretty blase about it all," Johnstone said.
"I spoke to Dean Bailey just before the footy trip and he was like, 'we want to play you half-back'.
"I actually spoke to a few people after that and I said, 'this is what he is thinking of doing' and they said, 'that will be perfect for you'.
"All of a sudden it came up that they were going to off-load me and that was probably my main issue with the club - not the honesty."
im not sure if it cost us a flag whats everyone thoughts
