Michael Johnson (Australian rules footballer)

Michael Johnson (born 20 October 1984) is a former professional Australian rules footballer, who played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League.

Michael Johnson
Johnson playing for Fremantle in March 2016
Personal information
Full name Michael Johnson
Date of birth (1984-10-20) 20 October 1984
Original team(s) Perth (WAFL)
Draft No. 8, 2004 pre-season draft
Height 195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight 92 kg (203 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2005–2018 Fremantle 244 (68)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
2005 Indigenous All-Stars 1 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2018.
2 State and international statistics correct as of 2005.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Recruited from Perth Football Club in the WAFL with selection 8 in the 2004 Preseason Draft, he is a graduate of the Clontarf Football Academy.[1]

AFL career

He made his debut against Richmond in Round 4 of 2005 when Matthew Carr was a late withdrawal from the team due to illness.

Due to promising performances at both WAFL and AFL levels and his versatility, he announced a three-year extension to his contract in 2006[2] and then a two-year contract extensions to remain at Fremantle until the end of the 2011 season.[3]

In 2006, Michael finished equal runner-up (with Peter Bell) in Fremantle's Doig Medal Best & Fairest count, further underlining his credentials as a prospect for the future.[4]

His 2007 season started badly when he was suspended for four matches after colliding with Lachlan Hansen in a NAB Cup match and being one of the first players to be charged under the AFL's crackdown on front-on contact to the head.[5]

In 2009, he was appointed captain of the club for a pre-season derby[6] and despite missing the second half of the 2009 season due to an ankle injury,[7] he was officially included in the leadership group for the 2010 season. He also won the club's best clubman award for 2009.[8]

In May 2010 Johnson was investigated by the police in relation to a drug-related matter.[9][10] He was charged on summons with possessing cocaine, suspended for five matches and fined $5,000 for bringing the AFL into disrepute. He pleaded guilty and was fined $500 in court.[10][11][12]

In November 2016, Police investigated Johnson after it was alleged that he punched a Bunbury School teacher in the face while intoxicated at a kebab shop in Leederville.[13] He was found guilty and fined a total of $4500, but was given a spent conviction.[14]

In 2017, Johnson was integral in Fremantle's early season turnaround assisting Aaron Sandilands in the ruck despite the team generally taking a youth first approach in their team selection criteria.[15][16]

Johnson retired at the end of the 2018 season.[17] In February 2019, he was appointed as Fremantle's inaugural indigenous and multicultural liaison officer.[18]

Statistics
[19]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2005 Fremantle 37111046368223110.10.04.23.37.52.11.0
2006 Fremantle 372554270155425154410.20.210.86.217.06.21.6
2007 Fremantle 371821183130313100360.10.110.27.217.45.62.0
2008 Fremantle 372054204172376125300.30.210.28.618.86.31.5
2009 Fremantle 3710871224716951180.80.712.24.716.95.11.8
2010 Fremantle 3719178199120319117330.90.410.56.316.86.21.7
2011 Fremantle 3722131020111831999520.60.59.15.414.54.52.4
2012 Fremantle 372431316150466166520.10.013.26.319.46.92.2
2013 Fremantle 372352321126447159440.20.114.05.519.46.91.9
2014 Fremantle 371832242113355110240.20.113.46.319.76.11.3
2015 Fremantle 3715101799227110490.10.011.96.118.16.90.6
2016 Fremantle 374014616622830.00.311.54.015.57.00.8
2017 Fremantle 372221229130359123340.10.010.45.916.35.61.5
2018 Fremantle 3713301187118981200.20.09.15.514.56.21.5
Career 244 68 41 2676 1476 4152 1440 407 0.3 0.2 11.0 6.0 17.0 5.9 1.7

References
  1. Walsh, Courtney (25 November 2006). "Clontarf boys' time to shine". The Australian. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011.
  2. Promising youngster signs on with Freo
  3. Johnson Michael Johnson commits to Fremantle
  4. Tarrant package deal for Dockers
  5. Le Grand, Chip (10 March 2007). "Lions into final, Cats see lawyer". The Australian. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011.
  6. Johnson to skipper Freo in derby
  7. Fremantle 2010 preview
  8. "Duffield, Johnson and Mundy boost leadership group". Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  9. Docker probed over drug-related matter
  10. Star Docker faces drug probe
  11. Fremantle issue Johnson statement
  12. Docker Johnson hit with drugs charge
  13. http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/fremantle-dockers/dockers-confirm-michael-johnson-allegedly-involved-in-leederville-incident-20161114-gsp7qr.html
  14. Perpitch, Nicolas (4 November 2017). "Fremantle Docker Michael Johnson fined over pants-down punch at kebab shop".
  15. http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-fremantle-dockers--michael-johnson
  16. http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2017-04-22/grey-stands-up-for-young-dockers
  17. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-24/another-docker-pearce-calls-time-on-career
  18. "Johnno's back at Freo". fremantlefc.com.au. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  19. Michael Johnson's player profile at AFL Tables
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