Matthew Johnson, please stop taking on the tackler every time you get the ball

[wakojako]

To anyone doubting Johnson's A grade ceiling, I would urge you to be patient. He is 21 and has only played 29 games.

 

[wakojako]

Yeh, that is the aim. Was thinking as he was only supposed to be managed for this game so expectation he would come back in. Think Sturt did enough keep his spot after today

The wing position is a great way to pump some games into Johnno if we are tight on positions but he is clearly not a winger. I hope JLo helps him to develop his forward craft because that type of versatility make us so dangerous.

 

[Footskill]

To anyone doubting Johnson's A grade ceiling, I would urge you to be patient. He is 21 and has only played 29 games.

Don't think most here doubt it..question is how fast can he learn or willing put it n the work.. maybe this was his wake up call.. definitely has the skills

 

[Footskill]

The wing position is a great way to pump some games into Johnno if we are tight on positions but he is clearly not a winger. I hope JLo helps him to develop his forward craft because that type of versatility make us so dangerous.

But this is the issue do we use him in the wing just to keep him in the team when others might do a better job at the moment..esp if we not rebuilding ATM but finals bound lol

 

[wakojako]

But this is the issue do we use him in the wing just to keep him in the team when others might do a better job at the moment..esp if we not rebuilding ATM but finals bound lol

It's a good problem to have, happy to keep him out at this stage and see how Sturt goes.

 

[theGav56]

It's a good problem to have, happy to keep him out at this stage and see how Sturt goes.

Sturt definitely needs games, but I'm all for keeping MJ developing. While not looking like a winger, being able to roll through there is still going to be very handy.

 

[lint]

a) The wing position is no joke. It's serverely underrated by many, but get it wrong and it can have a massive effect on a game, particularly in transition. You need elite runners. Langdon, Sharp, Gulden, Acres. It makes a huge difference to your speedy counterattacking/switches and also team defence going the other way. I don't think Johnson has the tank or speed at this stage for the spot (i'm not sure he ever will), hence his inside focus. Just chucking him there because we don't have a spot inside isn't really doing him (or the team) any favours.
b) There's whispers he has osteitis pubis. To me that would explain the ginger movement/lack of intensity, and over-reliance on strength vs agility. In the game against Collingwood there was an incident in the third quarter where he approached a ground ball timidly and literally tried to soccer it up to himself instead of bending down and picking it up. I think he's being playing under duress and needs to rest and figure out the abdominal stuff (surgery as a last resort), if that is indeed the root of the problem.

 

[FreoGirl]

a) The wing position is no joke. It's serverely underrated by many, but get it wrong and it can have a massive effect on a game, particularly in transition. You need elite runners. Langdon, Sharp, Gulden, Acres. It makes a huge difference to your speedy counterattacking/switches and also team defence going the other way. I don't think Johnson has the tank or speed at this stage for the spot (i'm not sure he ever will), hence his inside focus. Just chucking him there because we don't have a spot inside isn't really doing him (or the team) any favours.
b) There's whispers he has osteitis pubis. To me that would explain the ginger movement/lack of intensity, and over-reliance on strength vs agility. In the game against Collingwood there was an incident in the third quarter where he approached a ground ball timidly and literally tried to soccer it up to himself instead of bending down and picking it up. I think he's being playing under duress and needs to rest and figure out the abdominal stuff (surgery as a last resort), if that is indeed the root of the problem.

did you write this?

How to judge one of footy's most unheralded roles

Michael Whiting takes a deeper look at one of the most complex roles in the AFL

www.afl.com.au

 

[lint]

did you write this?

How to judge one of footy's most unheralded roles

Michael Whiting takes a deeper look at one of the most complex roles in the AFL

www.afl.com.au

haha no - but yeah, perfect timing to illustrate my point. I like Johnno, but I've seen him jog back down the wing for cheapies at half back on a slow rebound play, then try to bite off a corridor diagonal kick (that was never on) and turn it over in an almost undefendable position too many times this year to feel he is a fit for the wing. The gut running back and forth, often unrewarded? Not so much. I've even seen him spit the dummy at his teammates a few times when not used when he presents himself.

Maybe we could get him to work on his defensive side and decision making by stationing him at half back ala early Mundy? It's clear there's barely any inside mid spots as long as Serong, Fyfe, Young, Brayshaw and O'meara are here. (perhaps a source of his frustration). Johnson has the size for halfback, and perhaps if he could develop some quarterback qualities and also focus on stopping an opponent first, it might help him graduate to more cba's ala Young in a few years time...