Some long-awaited relief from a debilitating knee issue and his own competitive nature helped Steve Johnson recapture his vintage form in the GIANTS’ easy semi-final win over West Coast.
Johnson's six second-half goals brought back memories of his glory days at Spotless Stadium, and showed that his 292 games of experience could be valuable to the GIANTS as they chase their inaugural premiership.
Many wrote off the 34-year-old's career when he was dropped for the GIANTS’ qualifying final against Adelaide, but he revealed after the match that a new injection has helped with his knee pain, which gave him the chance to show coach Leon Cameron that there's life in the old man yet.
The veteran had found some touch in a reserves scratch match, backed it up with some solid work on the track last week, and capitalised when Cameron swung him a recall against the Eagles.
"When I missed out against Adelaide I just took it on the chin, and I've just tried to train with some real enthusiasm and show Leon that I'm desperate to play," he said.
"When the opportunity came (to select me) I think he realised I was switched on.
"The knee has felt better over the last couple of weeks then it has for the past 20, so hopefully it pulls up well.
"I'm reasonably confident I'll train on Wednesday and have a good preparation for the prelim final."
The GIANTS now head to the MCG for a monster showdown with Richmond and the visitors will need to contend with much more than the likes of Dustin Martin, Alex Rance and Trent Cotchin when they take to the field next Saturday.
Success-starved Tigers supporters will flock to the clash in enormous numbers, but Johnson believes the hype surrounding the Richmond revival, and the scrutiny the club has attracted over the past few weeks, can work in the GIANTS’ favour.
"I hope they all come through the gate," he said.
"I don't really look at us as the underdogs because it's a cut-throat final and we need to go in believing that we're the favourites.
"It doesn't matter if there's more pressure on them because they haven't won a premiership since 1980 because our club hasn't won one.
"They'll be feeling a bit of nervous energy because there's no doubt there's been some pressure and a fair bit of media (attention on them), and I think that will continue next week.
"They've had to wait 15 days for their next appearance and I think we've come through unscathed, so I think that’s an advantage for us.
"We're desperate after last year's loss (to the Western Bulldogs) in the preliminary final
"We went in as favourites (that night) and we didn't live up to it, that's the bottom line.
"What I do know is that prelim finals are the hardest ones to win and having that experience will definitely prepare our boys mentally."
