Swans gun Quade Johnstone to reach major GVL milestone this weekend

The former captain and 2014 premiership player has been, when not battling his many injuries, a class leader, fierce competitor and one of the toughest on-ballers at not only club level but in Goulburn Valley League.

Despite spending one year away from the club at South Bendigo in 2018, Princess Park has been his home away from home for the best part of 15 years.

And the 30-year-old wouldn’t have it any other way.

“For a stage there I didn’t know if I would get to 200 (games), the last 50 have been tough going and probably been the longest 50 to reach,” he said with a laugh.

“It’s sort of another game to be honest, but I am feeling proud ... I would like to acknowledge all of the past club presidents and coaches along the way who helped make the club be such a great place to be around.

“If they didn’t do that, then I don’t think I would have stayed for as long as I have and I think this milestone is more of a reflection on the club itself and not the actual individual.”

Johnstone’s journey is one plenty of footballers can relate to.

Although he’s experienced some of the highs that come with playing at the highest level in the region, he’s had his fair share of downs.

He battled Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) during his teenage years, a shoulder reconstruction in 2011, a handful of soft tissue setbacks and a spate of ankle troubles.

Don’t forget, he fractured his fibula a month before the 2014 flag.

Johnstone remembers a time, way back before he had even notched one senior game, where he thought about giving footy up due to his CFS and glandular fever.

“I actually stumbled on Swans when I was going to throw in the towel on playing and except for that year in Bendigo, I’ve never left,” he said.

“My body is actually holding up a bit better than I thought. I struggled last year and missed a few games through calf and ankle injury and there was a moment there where I did start to think about not playing.

“The milestone is something that never really pops into your mind, you’re just happy to be playing really. You go back 10 years ago and I was just focused on being able to play footy. Physically, I’d pull up worse back then compared to what I do now.”

Johnstone was quick to point out the success of 2014 as one of his career highlights, yet it was the seasons and years prior to that drought-breaking triumph that he cherishes the most.

“The 2014 premiership is obviously what comes to mind ... but I think that four-year period after 2010 is the biggest highlight for me,” he said.

“We came from the bottom up, so seeing that growth and development was pretty special.

“It’s similar to where we are at now; I know our performances and results might not show it, but I feel like we’ve improved so much from where we were in 2019. I think it’s a credit to what ‘Hawkey’ (Paul Hawke), ‘Riordo’ (Andrew Riordan) and Jedd (Wright) have been able to do as coaches.”

And as much as he may not want to admit it, due to his modest nature, Johnstone has also played an important role in the club’s resurgence.

When he returned from his year away at the start of 2019, the captaincy fell on his and his premiership teammate Mitch Bell’s shoulders.

Johnstone confessed the captaincy was something “that never interested him”, yet it did help change his perception.

“The club was sort of in a dark spot when I came back and being captain was something that I didn’t ever see myself doing, but I really enjoyed it, you see everything around the club in a different aspect,” he said.

As he prepares for game 200, Johnstone may no longer be club captain, that title now falls on Nathan Rachele, but the club stalwart still sheds his experience and leadership on the club’s exciting next generation.

For how much longer? Well, only Johnstone and his body know the answer to that question.

But one thing is certain, expect him to remain a loyal Swan marching onward to victory.