Blast from the Past

Welcome to “Blast from the Past”. Our aim is to cover off on past players, coaches and support staff of The Western Magpies from all over Australia and we trust that you find it interesting reading. This week we feature a former QAFL great, two time Premiership Assistant Coach and newly appointed Development Coach ,Quentin Johnson. Quincey was truly one of the most exciting players in the QAFL with Western Districts/West Brisbane during the 80s and 90s playing mostly as an inside midfielder with a thirst for goals. Quince was a highly decorated 4 time Senior Best and Fairest winner as well as the Courier Mail Player of the year that would quite often win games off his own boot whilst drawing heavy attention from the opposition. His career started in an extremely healthy period for the QAFL and he played alongside some of the greats of the area such as QAFL Hall of Famer Owen Backwell and Mark Gersakowski and against the likes of Craig Britain, Dean Warren and Zane Taylor. After retiring from top flight football he took up a player coach role at UQ Lions before coming to The Western Magpies as a Senior Assistant Coach. Quince had an instant impact at the club with a strong approach to fitness and youth development and implemented strategies that would see the club play in three Grand Finals for two premierships

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Name: Quentin Johnson
Details of Playing / Coaching Career: 

Playing:
84-86 Western Districts 
86 -87Bris Bears Development Squad, Geelong, 
87-88 Sunshine (VFA) 
89-97 West Brisbane (96 player, reserve grade & senior assistant coach)
98 Zillmere (player & assistant coach)
99-2003 UQ (Player Coach)

Coaching:
2005-2009 Western Magpies assistant coach
2006 S. E Bushrangers U16s Coach
2010 & 2011 State U18s assistant coach
2012 & 2013 NT Thunder assistant coach

Awards / Medals Received: 
Wests B&F 84, 86, 89, 91
Courier Mail B&F 86
Sunshine R.U B&F 88

Favourite Playing Position: 
Centre

Most Respected Opponents (in QLD):
Craig Britton, John Taylor

Best Player played with at the club: 
Wests: Owen Backwell

Biggest Character at the club:
??? So many

AFL Club I Follow: 
Western Bulldogs

Current Occupation: 
Personal Trainer / Strength & Conditioning Coach

Are you still involved in footy?
Yes

Where do you see local QAFL heading in the future? 
Hopefully back to its best like it was 15/20 years ago. But depends on all the clubs junior development?

Quentin Johnson was an exhilarating crowd favourite footballer who was renowned for his speed and foot skills (some say they played with him for 10 years without seeing him handball) he was a highly respected player both by his team mates and opposition. Having started his senior football journey with Wests he had brief stints at Geelong and the Brisbane Bears but injuries at crucial times robbed him of having a good run at AFL level. A successful season with the tough Sunshine Football Club in the VFA saw him finish runner up in the clubs Best and Fairest before returning to Wests to win his third for the QAFL club. He went on to captain West Brisbane winning the 1991 Best and Fairest along with representing the state numerous times. Quinces coaching career has been an expansive one with key roles at West Brisbane, UQ, Northern Eagles, NT Thunder and Western Magpies at senior level along with development roles with South East Bushrangers and Queensland 18s. When Quince isn’t at the footy he is busy with his two children Brianna and Billy (since joined The Western Magpies) as well as running his personal training and strength coaching business. You will often see him at the club helping developing new premiership heroes for the club as well as cheering on the Western Magpies seniors. When you do see him go up and say g’day and tell him you enjoyed his “Blast from the Past”