Travis Johnstone's 2008 form to date

[Loyal Lion]

Hi just curious to see what your opinion is of Travis Johnstone's 2008 form ?

We know the bloke can play but is prone to have regular form lapses. I was a bit surprised that Matthews said he could play better.

As a 3rd stringer behind Black & Power, he fits in very well.

No doubt some of you Demon supporter's have been watching him thus far.

What is your assessment of his form compared to previous year's ? On par, average or better ?

 

[Bartram_Class]

To be fair, I think a lot of us expected him to set the world on fire so its no surprise to see him doing fairly well.

Not sure if it's on par with his 2005 form which saw him clean up our Best and Fairest and go pretty close to AA.

Guess most Lions fans would be pretty happy, but if you don't go close to a flag in the next 2/3 years, he would have been a waste of a trade considering it was a first rounder.

 

[omit]

his stats this year are almost identical to Brad Greens stats this year. it's kind of scary

 

[melbournemartin]

He's a freak player and I'm glad he's doing well. It was always going to happen.

 

[davey_magik]

I think he is going very well numbers wise and kicking goals, but I've seen a little (Not a lot) of him this year and he needs to hurt the opposition more as he can with his footskills. His contested ball work has been great for you guys but he can still improve on his outside game as that is when he can tear the opposition apart.

 

[master bate]

Same player in better team = better result. He's done exactly what we have expected him to do, hopefully Jack Grimes does what we want him to do and it's a great win win. A little bit of me would love to have seen what Bailey could have done with him off a half back flank or a forward flank but I'm not overly fussed. Will he get more responsibiliy, blokes like Power and Adcock are great players, but I think TJ has them covered when he really plays his best. At the moment Brisbane are my team for the finals and if TJ fires he can impact a final, so good luck.

 

[Major Colvin]

Trapper does his best work in better sides. Brisbane is prefect for him because he can just coast along as the 3 mid behind Black and Power. Its good to see him doing well, he was always one of the favourite players, just never fully delivered.

 

[Supermercado]

Has his disposal efficiency hit the magic 80% yet this year?

 

[Deefolt]

Seems to play well WHEN HE DOESNT GET THE NUMBER ONE TAG.

He was traded because he was shit at melbourne when he had the number one tag, doesnt have it at brisbane and wallah not rocket surgery people...

 

[the russian40]

yeah the whole not getting tagged everyweek has helped, but i think a lot of it is down to a coach that doesnt t ake $hit...matthews has no problems publicly ripping through a player, imagine what he is like behind closed doors..

daniher gave him an easy ride

 

[Dee UK]

yeah the whole not getting tagged everyweek has helped, but i think a lot of it is down to a coach that doesnt t ake $hit...matthews has no problems publicly ripping through a player, imagine what he is like behind closed doors..

daniher gave him an easy ride

Fully agree, had everything far to easy at Melbourne since day 1 of his career, and a move was exactly what was needed to shake him up a bit. Yes a better player in a better team etc and yes better not been tagged etc, but what he really needed all along was a rocket up his ars@ and who better to do that than lethal

 

[beatnik]

i think it will become one of the great win-win-win trades and i'm happy that everyone has managed to get something they needed

looking in the crystal ball towards the end of 2009, i'd say it will look something like this:

Collingwood:

Cam Wood will have developed nicely into an imposing tap ruckman and moderate possession winner but his real value will be seen in the improved output of Josh Fraser, expecially in the forward line

he is exactly what the Pies need right now and i'm sure they'll be very pleased with the trade down the track

Melbourne:

to be honest, i've not seen him play so i can't really comment but he's a first-round pick and that means he's ticked a few boxes along the way

the Dees had to ease some salary cap burden and increases their catch in the draft - i hope he becomes a great player so they never feel they were stiffed in the deal

Brisbane:

Johnstone will continue to impress but his numbers will fluctate depending on whether other teams tag him or not - i don't think Leigh would worry if his numbers drop, just as long as his attack on the ball remains

like Wood, TJ's real value to the Lions will be the career-extending breathing space that he offers Black - Black got smashed around badly last year in our young midfield and the need to find a mature player to share the burden on him was a priority

personally i think the Lions would have pinched themselves when they learned Travis was an option - he fits the bill so perfectly that, regardless of how good Wood and Grimes will no doubt become, Brisbane will be equally pleased with the trade for what it offers the team in the next 4-odd years

win-win-win

 

[Bartram_Class]

The TJ of old was back today.

6 touches to 3/4 time, then a few cheap ones in the last.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

The TJ of old was back today.

6 touches to 3/4 time, then a few cheap ones in the last.

Not to mention the whinging and poor body language he showed for the majority of the day. It's nice to know he is still a downhill skier.

 

[McLean_4_Captain]

Not to mention the whinging and poor body language he showed for the majority of the day. It's nice to know he is still a downhill skier.

I wish travis all the best, but sometimes it's nice to know we made the right decision as well.

The best thing i liked about us picking up grimes with the TJ draft pick was that he's a natural born leader, captained both northern knights and vic metro teams last year. If he can show a bit of that leadership he'll be the polar opposite of what johnstone gave us

 

[eliasd82]

He needs more touches.. I got on him for the Brownlow at 501-1
He better have 5-6 BOG in the second half of the season or im gonna be pissed.

Come on TJ!!!!
Get me some cash!!!!