Western Bulldogs veteran Jason Johannisen says reaching 200 games is one of the proudest moments of his career. 

After an injury-interrupted couple of seasons, Johannisen will notch up the double century tomorrow at Mars Stadium.

He said while it’s been a challenge at times to get there, he never once considered giving it up.

“It’s definitely been quite a journey. At different points in time, probably, I didn't think I'd be able to get there,” Johannisen told Sam Edmund on SEN 1116.

“To reach this milestone, and for this football club, is definitely one of my proudest moments in my football career.

“Retirement never crossed my mind. It was more the soft-tissue injuries and the reoccurrences – those were the ones that really hurt and I got really frustrated with.

“When I was in the team and playing, I was contributing and playing some good footy, so none of my thinking was that I wasn’t good enough to compete and perform as well as I’d like.

“I’m just grateful that the football club showed a lot of faith in me (even during those reoccurrences). I always had a positive mindset and outlook anytime I was injured, so I’m grateful for that faith and keeping me here, so I’m just happy to repay them.”

Johannisen was rookie-drafted with Pick 39 in 2010, since forging a reputation as a reliable and determined speed machine.

He claimed the 2016 Norm Smith Medal – still the only player in Dogs’ history to do so – and was full of praise for senior coach Luke Beveridge.

“I think one of Bevo’s great strengths is giving us players the belief that we can really play the game,” he said.

“As soon as Bevo came to the football club in 2015, he was so big on players playing multiple roles...obviously many players that have played for us have done that, and even on the weekend you saw Lobby start in the backline and then move forward which was a critical move for us in terms of the game.

“Like a lot of players here, I’ve enjoyed the challenge and am just happy to play any role for the team.

“Definitely for me in my career Bevo’s added so much to my football ability and just the way I go about my game in a mental aspect – it gives me confidence I can really break the game open and be a damaging player. He does that for so many of us.”

Johannisen also thanked his wife Logan, who recently competed on Survivor Australia, for her support across the journey.

“I thought she did really well. She won a couple of challenges and lasted 39 days which was an incredible effort,” he said.

“It’s just awesome to see because as a partner she supports me, and through my career has done everything and put me first, so it was cool to see her do something for herself and chase her dream. 

“I definitely would prefer to play football over (Survivor) because it is pretty brutal, but she said she loved every minute of it.”