COLLINGWOOD midfielder Ben Johnson would probably have walked away from football had he suffered the persistent hamstring problems he's had this season three years ago.

In 2008, Johnson mentally hit rock bottom. After missing the first game of the season because of a one-match suspension hanging over from the six-week sanction he was handed after round 20, 2007, for front-on contact against Melbourne's Daniel Bell, his form dipped dramatically.

The deterioration in the second half of the season led to him being dropped in round 17, and he failed to recover.

He missed the Pies' two finals - the first a 31-point win over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, and the second a 34-point loss to St Kilda at the MCG - and had not enjoyed anything about the season just gone.

The only thing that stopped him walking away from the game altogether was the fact he was contracted for season 2009.

"I didn't really have any passion for footy and things outside of footy were more important to me," he told afl.com.au this week.

"I didn't really like playing footy, to tell you the truth.

"I had a good chat with Mick [Malthouse] that year - and he pretty much told me to stop feeling sorry for myself  - and my parents and girlfriend talked to me, and I just sort of turned things around.

"I really found that passion again and I haven't looked back."

His mindset in 2009 was consequently better, despite the fact he sustained a broken leg in round three against Geelong that kept him out for 11 weeks.

He stayed positive, was diligent in his recovery and even gave up alcohol, which led to his return in round 15 and subsequent participation in the Magpies' three finals against St Kilda, Adelaide and Geelong. 

This year, he's been met with another significant challenge. He strained his hamstring - the first injury of its kind in his 12-year career - in round six against the Western Bulldogs, re-injured it again four weeks later, and only just made his way back into the seniors in round 17.

Looking back on the way he approached his career in 2008, he believes he would not have been equipped to deal with such a setback had it occurred in the same year.

"It would have been seeya later, no doubt," he said.

"I had that turning point in 2009. Even when I broke my leg, I just stayed really positive.

"I trained hard, didn't drink alcohol, same as last year, and didn't really go out much.

"I just put footy number one, and I'm so glad I did."

There's even a positive to come from the lengthy hamstring issue that wiped out the middle of Johnson's season.

At 30 years of age, he knows he's coming to the end of his career, although believes he's got a "couple of years left" and says he's been reinvigorated by the return of close mate Chris Tarrant to the club.

But having such a large chunk of this year out of the game - with four hit-outs in the VFL in between his senior appearances - has left him with confidence he can put together an even better 2012.

"It was frustrating at the time but looking back, it's probably a good thing because I missed 10 games and it will probably give me a full season next year," he said.

"It's a long season and to miss a few games probably doesn't hurt.

"With the career, I'll take it one year at a time but I think I have a few years left."

Johnson says his hamstring has totally recovered and doesn't even pull up sore despite the trauma it sustained earlier in the year.

He also believes the knee nerve pain he has carried for a few weeks, which escalated on Friday night against Geelong, will settle in time for Saturday's clash with West Coast and isn't threatening the rest of his finals campaign.

And, he says the Pies are ready to unleash fury on the Eagles in the qualifying final after being thrashed by the Cats in a surprise result in round 24.

"I think the last six weeks we've been waiting to play an important game, and there's no more an important game than the first final," he said.

"Just the boys, they're really excited and even on Saturday morning when we walked the Tan, we were just so happy that it's finally here.

"We're definitely going to shake it up."

Jennifer Witham covers Collingwood news for the AFL Website. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.