Player Watch Ash Johnson (Delisted 2024)

[CheckerTrade666]

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.

I thought he was very solid in 2023, not as damaging as 2022 but he did a good job at filling the void of Mcstay for a lot of the year. If it wasn’t for him getting injured in the VFL finals, he most likely would’ve been the one to come in for the GF instead of Frampton.

 

[76woodenspooners]

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

You clearly never saw Cameron Wood play?

 

[sr36]

You clearly never saw Cameron Wood play?

Any of that series of ruck:

Fanning, Richards,

 

[Johno9911]

The biggest thing for me with AJ - he needs to develop another “trick”. Yes we know he is fantastic with a clean run and jump at the ball, but when that’s taken away from him - what else has he got?

Gets muscled out of contests easily, doesn’t seem a natural front/centre type goal sneak, lacks the tank to work opponents over up the ground. I’m a big fan of him, and think he is extremely talented, but I get so frustrated when it appears Plan A isn’t working for him, it seems there’s no drive or other option for him to work himself into the game.

 

[Kappa]

You clearly never saw Cameron Wood play?

Cameron Wood tried hard though, he was just horribly uncoordinated. Bit different

 

[NMBB]

Any of that series of ruck:

Fanning, Richards,

One of that lot cost us the 2007 prelim

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

You clearly never saw Cameron Wood play?

That's harsh on Wood. And if he plays in the 2011 GF, there's a good chance we win that game.

 

[Drought Break]

You clearly never saw Cameron Wood play?

Yeh I did. Show me 2 games where wood did less than Johnson. The bars set high. 2 touches game 1 and 3 for game 2

 

[Tarkyn_24]

You clearly never saw Cameron Wood play?

Wood’s bad performances were never anywhere near as poor as some of Johnson’s worst.

 

[VinnieB]

I thought he was very solid in 2023, not as damaging as 2022 but he did a good job at filling the void of Mcstay for a lot of the year. If it wasn’t for him getting injured in the VFL finals, he most likely would’ve been the one to come in for the GF instead of Frampton.

I don’t think so. Frampton was there to negate Andrews, which he did for 3 quarters. It was a role that AJ would not have been even slightly considered for.

 

[sr36]

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.

Defence forces a different mentality.

I think it's a shame that it sounds like he's playing forward still. He marks more like an interceptor than a modern forward.

 

[ZEV]

Any of that series of ruck:

Fanning, Richards,

I'm laying the blame with Malthouse when it comes to David Fanning.

Delisted at 21 as a 204 cm ruckman after 14 games against players like;

Luke Darcy
Troy Simmonds
Dean Cox
Peter Everitt
Darren Jolly
Primus/Lade
Charman/Keating
Clarke/ Biglands
Sandilands x 2

Being a young ruckman with Malthouse at Collingwood was a career killer.