Player Watch Ash Johnson (Delisted 2024)

[manicpie]

One’s 27… his efforts questioned … and hasn’t played a good senior game since his 3 goals vs Freo in rd 18, 2023

Barely played a good VFL game in that time too

The other is less talented a forward but still kicked 13.2 in 9 senior games off limited game time when playing for the year…

And at not even 22, he has more time to potentially improve as a forward and/or learn and to play a role at half back going forward

So I can see why reef was given another year

Look how long it took Murphy to come good.

Johnson on the other hand is a known quantity with minimal to no improvement left imo

I’d consider it a blessing if another club took him in the rookie draft ahead of the pies

Pies then to rookie Tomlinson, Jack Hayes, Grainger- Barass, Ethan Phillips, etc instead

Now you're talking. Throw in Cumberland and we win the next 3 flags

 

[localfootylegend23]

It’d be great to see Ash Johnson regain his best form again.

On a positive, his best was decent. He’s still only 27 yo in a forward line that has an aging Mihocek, Membrey and Elliott who will all surely be retiring over the next few seasons. The opportunity is there for him, it’s now up to him if he wants it and if he’s prepared to put the work in to take it.

On a negative, he’s currently behind Mihicek, McStay and likely Membrey. It’s going to be hard for him to get a game. He couldn’t even get games last year when our key forward were all out. He’s coming from a long way back.

Has a player ever resurrected their career in the way Johnson needs to? Hogan maybe, but he was much further developed and needed to go to another club to find his best again.

Maybe already mentioned but we shifted chris tarrant to freo, he went shithouse, turned into a defender. Jagged 2008 GOAT paul medhurst and the pick 8 we used on ben reid in the trade, and got a couple years of defender taz back after

 

[manicpie]

N

Maybe already mentioned but we shifted chris tarrant to freo, he went shithouse, turned into a defender. Jagged 2008 GOAT paul medhurst and the pick 8 we used on ben reid in the trade, and got a couple years of defender taz back after

Medhurst is one my all time favourite players

 

[sr36]

Ash Johnson has the tools to kick 50 in a season as a 3rd tall. Right now he will be lucky I think if we still rookie him.
Last year he played undersized in both the AFL and VFL and it didnt help our VFL team was awful. The sad thing was he looked really good during preseason.

They just have to give Ash a season in defence. Great athlete who reads it well in the air and has good hands but gets all that taken away from him by body work from a decent AFL defender.

His aerial game is the Sicily, Howe type - more physically suited to intercepting. Full preseason their with his career on the line. He might surprise.

 

[Kappa]

They just have to give Ash a season in defence. Great athlete who reads it well in the air and has good hands but gets all that taken away from him by body work from a decent AFL defender.

His aerial game is the Sicily, Howe type - more physically suited to intercepting. Full preseason their with his career on the line. He might surprise.

Johnson is a great athlete yet hasn't given a genuine 2nd effort in his life...

Has good hands yet constantly drops marks.

He's aerial game is a lead and mark style, it doesn't work at AFL level because he drops too many marks and doesn't work hard enough to get more opportunity.

 

[sr36]

He's aerial game is a lead and mark style, it doesn't work at AFL level because he drops too many marks and doesn't work hard enough to get more opportunity.

That's my point. Sounds like Liam Jones when he was a forward. Pretty confident that Aliir Aliir would be the same as a forward

It probably won't work, but I think he doesn't have the game for the forward line and is worth a shot in defence.

 

[manicpie]

That's my point. Sounds like Liam Jones when he was a forward. Pretty confident that Aliir Aliir would be the same as a forward

It probably won't work, but I think he doesn't have the game for the forward line and is worth a shot in defence.

I'd be putting AJ in defence and tell him to punch the ball at every opportunity. He gets into position ok but gets out manoeuvred easily. Teach him to kill contests and not mark the ball unless he's completely on his own. I doubt we get much rebound out of him. As I write this, I'm doubting whether we can actually do it though

 

[VinnieB]

Johnson is a great athlete yet hasn't given a genuine 2nd effort in his life...

Has good hands yet constantly drops marks.

He's aerial game is a lead and mark style, it doesn't work at AFL level because he drops too many marks and doesn't work hard enough to get more opportunity.

He is some mythical creature who apparently has all these weapons, yet no-one has really seen them.

As for being a defender? The guy doesn’t have the aptitude. Loses focus far too often. He was tried as a defender in the VFL and had no idea he needed to defend. Walking around ball watching and no urgency to get back.

The guy is finished. Best we can hope is for a club to take him ahead of us in the rookie draft.

 

[sr36]

I'd be putting AJ in defence and tell him to punch the ball at every opportunity. He gets into position ok but gets out manoeuvred easily. Teach him to kill contests and not mark the ball unless he's completely on his own. I doubt we get much rebound out of him. As I write this, I'm doubting whether we can actually do it though

I'd have him going for his marks. It's a long shot, but he's on the list for a year and a Howe style interceptor is the only role I think he has the skillset for the core job.

 

[Gaspard]

I have just finished watching the 2022 season, and was very impressed by what I saw from Ash Johnson. In that year, at least, he showed a lot. His kicking and marking were features. In the finals he played, he was less impressive, seeming to lose confidence early in his first game and not regain it.
I intend to go through 2023 now, and will observe his outings that year closely. I am at a bit of a loss to understand why he has not kicked on. He seems to be well equipped to succeed.
The suggestions of a move to the back line don't seem promising to me. He is a fly from in front kind of player rather than a climb up the back taker of hangers, and this is not how backs tend to operate. Doesn't mean he couldn't transfer of course, but it doesn't seem likely to me.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

His aerial game is the Sicily, Howe type - more physically suited to intercepting. Full preseason their with his career on the line. He might surprise.

I’d be very surprised if he surprised me.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

I still can't get the horror of the Rd 1 game against Sydney this year out of my head.

 

[Drought Break]

I still can't get the horror of the Rd 1 game against Sydney this year out of my head

GWS round 1 then Sydney Rd 2. Collectively 2 of the worst games I’ve ever seen from a pies player.

 

[manicpie]

I have a feeling that AJ is going to have a decent year. Don't know why though. Just a feeling in the old bones

 

[Aussie pie]

It’d be great to see Ash Johnson regain his best form again.

On a positive, his best was decent. He’s still only 27 yo in a forward line that has an aging Mihocek, Membrey and Elliott who will all surely be retiring over the next few seasons. The opportunity is there for him, it’s now up to him if he wants it and if he’s prepared to put the work in to take it.

On a negative, he’s currently behind Mihicek, McStay and likely Membrey. It’s going to be hard for him to get a game. He couldn’t even get games last year when our key forward were all out. He’s coming from a long way back.

Has a player ever resurrected their career in the way Johnson needs to? Hogan maybe, but he was much further developed and needed to go to another club to find his best again.

Rory Lobb did it this year. He was all but gone but now a key for the doggies.

 

[sr36]

I have a feeling that AJ is going to have a decent year. Don't know why though. Just a feeling in the old bones

Sounds like you've got Ashritis.

 

[NMBB]

Sounds like you've got Ashritis.

Which is an inflammation of what exactly?

 

[Mollythedolly]

Which is an inflammation of what exactly?

Johnson?

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

Rory Lobb did it this year. He was all but gone but now a key for the doggies.

Looks like he'll be competing with Reef now.

Life isn't going to get any easier for AJ. He's going to be asked to work harder than ever. The ball is firmly in his court.

 

[Jen2310]

GWS round 1 then Sydney Rd 2. Collectively 2 of the worst games I’ve ever seen from a pies player.

I'd say the dogs game was worse.

 

[Jen2310]

Looks like he'll be competing with Reef now.

Life isn't going to get any easier for AJ. He's going to be asked to work harder than ever. The ball is firmly in his court.

Ash is playing forward
reef is playing back
not the same.
Ash competing with membrey at this point.. and then the key forward(s) we draft.

 

[domus]

I don't see AJ as a defender as an important part of the job down back is red hot intensity in tackling and pressuring opponents when they have the ball.