Travis Johnstone
Encyclopedia
Travis Johnstone is an Australian rules football
er who has played for the Brisbane Lions and Melbourne
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). He is the grandson of former Fitzroy Lions
player, Norm Johnstone
.
and made his debut in the 1998 season.
Johnstone took time to develop into a star player for Melbourne, and for some time was criticised in the football media for underachieving as a number 1 draft selection.
In 2002 he finished equal fourth in Brownlow Medal
voting, and in 2005 he won his first Melbourne Best and Fairest Award, the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal
, and he led the AFL in total kicks.
Johnstone has since developed into a midfielder possessing terrific vision and skill who in 2006 led the team for the second year in a row in the Brownlow Medal, with 11 votes. During the year he accumulated 469 disposals at 21 an outing, which included first for inside 50s (87) and third for rebounds from 50 (55). Was also 5th in tackles (77). However, he has been criticised for his unwillingness to go in for the hard ball and often plays a running receiver role.
In 2007 Johnstone struggled to capture his best form and was not helped by an achilles injury holding him to only 15 games. Johnstone produced a career-high 42 disposals in what would be his final game for the Demons in round 22 against Carlton
.
Throughout his career at Melbourne, Travis Johnstone was recognised as one of the AFL's most dangerous and talented midfielders; however, he often struggled for consistency, and finished in the Truscott Medal
top ten only twice.
had acquired the 27 year old midfielder from Melbourne for draft pick number 14 in the 2007 national draft
, which the Lions had received from Collingwood in a trade for young ruckman Cameron Wood
. This came after weeks of speculation over Johnstone's future with the club. New coach Dean Bailey
was openly looking for high draft picks and Johnstone was considered a more expendable, yet of decent value. After the clubs confirmed Johnstone was now a Lion, the Melbourne Football Club was bombarded with phone calls from angry supporters who were furious that Johnstone was traded, proving that Johnstone was a very popular player among fans. In his debut for the Lions in Round 1, he amassed 20 disposals off the bench in their loss to the West Coast Eagles
. The week after, Johnstone managed 22 disposals in Brisbane's nailbiting 2 point win against the Collingwood Magpies. Arguably his finest game for Brisbane to date came in the Lions' Round 8, 2008 win over Carlton
where Johnstone amassed 32 disposals, six tackles and three goals. In round 11 2010, Johnstone managed a remarkable 37 disposals in a one point loss to North Melbourne.
On 28 October 2010, Johnstone was delisted from the Lions. Johnstone nominated for the 2010 AFL Draft
, but began planning to play for the Palmerston Magpies.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who has played for the Brisbane Lions and Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). He is the grandson of former Fitzroy Lions
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
player, Norm Johnstone
Norm Johnstone
Norman "Norm" Johnstone was a former Australian rules footballer who played his entire 228 game career with the Fitzroy in the VFL...
.
AFL career at Melbourne
Johnstone was the first selection in the 1997 AFL Draft1997 AFL Draft
The 1997 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1997 Australian Football League season. A pre-season draft was also held prior to the 1998 season....
and made his debut in the 1998 season.
Johnstone took time to develop into a star player for Melbourne, and for some time was criticised in the football media for underachieving as a number 1 draft selection.
In 2002 he finished equal fourth in Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
voting, and in 2005 he won his first Melbourne Best and Fairest Award, the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal
Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal
The Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Melbourne Football Club player judged Best and Fairest for the season.It is named in honor of Keith 'Bluey' Truscott, a former dual premiership player and World War II fighter ace killed in 1943....
, and he led the AFL in total kicks.
Johnstone has since developed into a midfielder possessing terrific vision and skill who in 2006 led the team for the second year in a row in the Brownlow Medal, with 11 votes. During the year he accumulated 469 disposals at 21 an outing, which included first for inside 50s (87) and third for rebounds from 50 (55). Was also 5th in tackles (77). However, he has been criticised for his unwillingness to go in for the hard ball and often plays a running receiver role.
In 2007 Johnstone struggled to capture his best form and was not helped by an achilles injury holding him to only 15 games. Johnstone produced a career-high 42 disposals in what would be his final game for the Demons in round 22 against Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
.
Throughout his career at Melbourne, Travis Johnstone was recognised as one of the AFL's most dangerous and talented midfielders; however, he often struggled for consistency, and finished in the Truscott Medal
Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal
The Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Melbourne Football Club player judged Best and Fairest for the season.It is named in honor of Keith 'Bluey' Truscott, a former dual premiership player and World War II fighter ace killed in 1943....
top ten only twice.
Trade to the Brisbane Lions
On 11 October 2007 it was confirmed that the Brisbane LionsBrisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
had acquired the 27 year old midfielder from Melbourne for draft pick number 14 in the 2007 national draft
2007 AFL Draft
The 2007 AFL Draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2007/08 Australian Football League off-season. These were trade week, the National Draft, the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft.- Trades :...
, which the Lions had received from Collingwood in a trade for young ruckman Cameron Wood
Cameron Wood
Cameron Wood is a professional Australian rules football player currently playing for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Brisbane Lions:...
. This came after weeks of speculation over Johnstone's future with the club. New coach Dean Bailey
Dean Bailey
Dean Bailey is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon, a former coach of the Melbourne Football Club, as well as a former assistant coach at Port Adelaide.-Coaching career:...
was openly looking for high draft picks and Johnstone was considered a more expendable, yet of decent value. After the clubs confirmed Johnstone was now a Lion, the Melbourne Football Club was bombarded with phone calls from angry supporters who were furious that Johnstone was traded, proving that Johnstone was a very popular player among fans. In his debut for the Lions in Round 1, he amassed 20 disposals off the bench in their loss to the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
. The week after, Johnstone managed 22 disposals in Brisbane's nailbiting 2 point win against the Collingwood Magpies. Arguably his finest game for Brisbane to date came in the Lions' Round 8, 2008 win over Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
where Johnstone amassed 32 disposals, six tackles and three goals. In round 11 2010, Johnstone managed a remarkable 37 disposals in a one point loss to North Melbourne.
On 28 October 2010, Johnstone was delisted from the Lions. Johnstone nominated for the 2010 AFL Draft
2010 AFL Draft
The 2010 AFL Draft consists of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2010/11 Australian Football League off-season. These are the Trade Week; held between , the National Draft; held on the , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft .This is the first national draft to feature the...
, but began planning to play for the Palmerston Magpies.