It was during his former sporting life as a hard-nosed Brisbane defender when Chris Scott first got an appreciation of just what the mercurial Steve Johnson was capable of on the football field.

That admiration has only deepened in the past three years when Scott has had the pleasure to coach Johnson, who reaches the 200-game milestone on Saturday against Richmond.

But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the 29-year-old from the Victorian country town of Wangaratta.

He was famously banished by his club for five senior matches in 2007 for the latest in a string of alcohol-fuelled indiscretions, before returning to play a key role in the drought-breaking premiership later that year.

By the time Scott arrived at the Cattery for the 2011 season, Johnson was very much a reformed figure, albeit one who continued to play the sport in his own unique way.

And Scott reckons he could be just as successful in the coaching caper.

“He’s a really astute football thinker, really highly regarded within the group,” the Geelong coach said on Tuesday.

“He’s still managed to retain his individuality and flair as a player.

“Sometimes that means he can be as frustrating as he can be exciting, but that all rolled into one mix makes for a pretty exciting player to coach and watch.

“If he wants to coach, he’ll coach.

“I would assume wherever he wants, pretty much.

“His knowledge and understanding of the game is very strong and it seems to me he’ll have the application to go on and coach as well.”

Johnson will not be the only decorated Cat celebrating a personal milestone against the Tigers at the MCG, with fellow triple premiership hero Corey Enright reaching the 250-game mark.

“Geelong have had some pretty special players over the years, but those two already will go down as two of the greats,” said Scott.

“It’s hard to hide my admiration for Steve Johnson.

“In part that’s probably because I had the misfortune of playing on him a few times in my career and there were few better.

“And Corey Enright is just finally getting the recognition he deserves outside the club, because there would be no-one more respected than Boris within the Geelong footy club.”