Former Fremantle Dockers midfielder Viv Michie feared career could have been over if he stayed

FORMER Fremantle midfielder Viv Michie says he left the Dockers because he feared his AFL career could have been over if he had remained at the port club for another season.

Viv Michie made his Demons debut last weekend and will face West Coast in Round 2. Pictur

FORMER Fremantle midfielder Viv Michie says he left the Dockers because he feared his AFL career could have been over if he had remained at the port club for another season.

Michie made just one appearance for Fremantle in three years after being taken in the second round of the 2010 national draft.

With stress fractures in his right foot ruining his first two seasons, he found form for Peel in the WAFL last year before deciding he needed to move rather than keep competing with the Dockers’ star-studded on-ball brigade for a game.

Having laboured for three seasons for a solitary game for the Dockers, the Victorian product will today play his second straight match for Melbourne as the Demons host West Coast at the MCG.

“Having so much time out through injury and then finally getting back and having a decent year (in the WAFL) last year, I suppose I just felt like at some point I needed to start playing games and get my career up and running,’’ Michie said.

“I didn’t want to go through another year and not be playing games and have four years in the system and you’ve only played half a game of footy. It’s probably going to be pretty hard from then on.

“So for me, the move was all about hopefully getting a bit more opportunity at Melbourne, with Freo obviously being a pretty strong side.’’

His stalled AFL career might be only two games old, but the 22-year-old believes he has played under two of the great coaches in Ross Lyon and Paul Roos.

“They’re both coaches who you really want to play for when you run out there,’’ Michie said.

“A lot of the things that Roosy preaches, I can sort of hear Ross saying it as well. They are big on the fundamentals and a lot of the things Roosy is trying to bring in at the Dees are similar to what I’ve learnt over the past two years.

“They are different personality wise. Roosy is probably a little bit more laid back, but I’m sure eventually that ruthless side will come out. He’s definitely a hard taskmaster as well.’’

Michie wished the Dockers all the best and said he would be glad if they won the premiership this season.

“I really hope they do well this year, so if it does happen that they win the Granny I’ll be rapt for everyone there and I guess I can’t really afford to have too many regrets,’’ he said.

“It will be an interesting feeling but I’ll just be happy for them if it does happen. From my point of view, I’m a Melbourne player now.’’