Magpie Ben Johnson, who has been named as one of the club’s deputy vice-captains for 2007, spoke to CTV after the announcement.The 25-year-old, who capped his finest season at Collingwood in 2006 by winning the RT Rush Trophy as the club’s runner-up in the best-and-fairest voting, was elected by his peers to the leadership group that includes captain Nathan Buckley, James Clement as vice-captain and Josh Fraser as the other deputy vice-captain.“I barracked for Collingwood all my life, and today, to be told I’m going to be deputy vice-captain, it’s a real honour”, Johnson told CTV at the MCG on Thursday after club president Eddie McGuire announced the leadership group to the media.“The players sort of had a vote and I was right up there, so it was good.”Now a veteran of 136 AFL games, Johnson led the club in total kicks (374), total disposals (531), and finished with the third-most kicks in the league last season.When asked what role he would like to play for the team in 2007, Johnson said it will be similar to the one he performed so well in 2006, as a running defender/midfielder.“I’d say across half back again, a bit more in the midfield, maybe kick a few more goals, just keep improving on the years before.”McGuire said it’s a tribute to Johnson that he has been able to turn around his career and win the full respect of his peers and everyone at the club after some off-field indiscretions in the past.“He’s had his ups and downs Ben, but I think that’s something that happens in football, and Ben has committed himself to the club, to the leadership group, and to proving to be a great Magpie,” McGuire said.“We think the fact that he wears No.26, made famous in recent times by our former captain Gavin Brown, is another significant moment for our football club, to see that number passed on to another future leader of our club.”To watch the full interview with Ben Johnson on CTV - FREE – please click on the relevant related link within this article.