14. Jason Johnson

[DaSawx]

Close to the end I'm afraid

[thebigboy]

Unfortunatly we probably should have let him go last year whilst he had some value.

[Valley Spy]

Saw him at the Bloc Party gig last nite.

Ok this could be a different kind of spotting.

[Deledio2Tambling]

So will he definetly be gone at the end of the year? My how the mighty can quickly fall.

[DaSawx]

So will he definetly be gone at the end of the year? My how the mighty can quickly fall.

He's contracted, so my guess is no.

[warney7]

What a waste.................a waste of a spot on out list if he is here next year, that is!

Was done 2 years ago......now he's overdone!

[ManWithNoName]

We can afford to pay him out. He's taking up a spot on the list, doesn't fit in the team anymore and doesn't provide any depth.

[hulld]

i hope we do pay him out

it's a sad situation

[SOT4]

We can afford to pay him out. He's taking up a spot on the list, doesn't fit in the team anymore and doesn't provide any depth.

Whats our salary cap situation like? Can we easily afford to pay him out? I know we payed out Lucy but that would've been a lot less money.

[Sean.]

He was very quiet this year. He is one of my favourite players when he is on fire, and it's dissapointing.

[windyhill]

Another example of how important a full pre-season is.

[ant555]

We can afford to pay him out. He's taking up a spot on the list, doesn't fit in the team anymore and doesn't provide any depth.

He would be on around 200k so it is a fair splash to pay out.
He has had a groin problem that ended his year so that may explain why he dropped off the pace very quickly after he showed a bit of form at the half way mark.

[hulld]

the early knights indication is that our kids, especiall the midfield kind, will be getting more games next season. i wouldn't be surprised now if we cut our losses and cut jj or at least help him find a new club,

perhaps a team like the dogs who lack a bit of grunt would take him for a late pick if we agree to pay part of his salary

[Schmick]

the early knights indication is that our kids, especiall the midfield kind, will be getting more games next season. i wouldn't be surprised now if we cut our losses and cut jj or at least help him find a new club,

perhaps a team like the dogs who lack a bit of grunt would take him for a late pick if we agree to pay part of his salary
:D:D:D:thumbsu::thumbsu::thumbsu::thumbsu:, just what i wanted to hear.

[Stants_24_Legend]

Im a bit dissapointed in some of u essendon posters.

This guy is an out and out superstar. the only reason he didnt have a good year last year is because he didnt get a full pre season under his belt.

As i have said in a previous thread. In our prime years 99 00 01 he was a standout in most of the games. Comeback game in 01, he basically won us the game with 4 goals and 35 touches or something. He was clearly our best clearance player in our prime and i think he still has it. Let him get a pre season under his belt and see how he goes.

I think JJ will be apart of a very skillful midfield next year and on the run he is a terrific kick. If he lining up for goal, im one of the guys who would like them to go back 30 metres take a bounce and kick it on the run lol.

But Essendon supporters give the man a chance he has had one bad year with injuries and ur saying get rid of him. U guys dissapoint me a lot.

On ya Johnno prove all these critics wrong and get a pre season under belt and so how good u can be

[hulld]

we all respect johno and apprecitate what he has done for the club, but people were saying the same thing as you this time last year

[Stants_24_Legend]

we all respect johno and apprecitate what he has done for the club, but people were saying the same thing as you this time last year
as me?? i havent been with bigfooty for a year let alone 6 months

[hulld]

all i'm saying is that jj was under pressure to keep his spot last year and people said give him a chance etc etc. but he struggled again. i can't see him ever getting close to his best form

[wazzabp]

While hes been brilliant for us over the years, I think its time for him to retire also. Hes struggled over the last 2 seasons to get back to his best on a consistent basis due to fitness problems, so to go out now would be best for his dignity and best for the club.

[Darealrath]

IF he can get fit he's still in our best 22. Could be very good in an off the bench role.

I have severe doubts about his fitness though. He carried our midfield for so long and is paying the price.

Absolute warrior and I wouldn't think any less of him if he attempted another year and it didn't work out.

[Sean.]

If he has an injury free pre-season, expect him to poll well in next years B&F.
He's gonna have a stellar season if he doesn't get any injuries. If he doesn't, I think he'll get the flick. He's in my top 2 favourite players, and I love watching him as ruck rover getting the tap from the ruckman, and just bursting away before kicking a maaagnificent... point (Hutchy - 2001 Round 16 - Essendon V Kangaroos)!

[DaSawx]

Still hoping he can regain his late 2006 form, he deserves one more shot

[The Dustbin]

I saw JJ sprinting up Anderson St (The Tan) today, geez he looks in fantastic shape. Probably the best I've seen him look in the last 5 years. With an injury free pre season I'm confident JJ can recapture his best form.

Had my doubts prior today, cause mainly of his pace and fitness. But now I'm convinced if he stays injury free will add alot of depth and class to our midfield.

[KING-JAMES]

I saw JJ sprinting up Anderson St (The Tan) today, geez he looks in fantastic shape. Probably the best I've seen him look in the last 5 years. With an injury free pre season I'm confident JJ can recapture his best form.

Had my doubts prior today, cause mainly of his pace and fitness. But now I'm convinced if he stays injury free will add alot of depth and class to our midfield.

Lets hope they all worked as hard over the Christmas break like it sounds JJ has.

[ant555]

all i'm saying is that jj was under pressure to keep his spot last year and people said give him a chance etc etc. but he struggled again. i can't see him ever getting close to his best form

The reason he struggled was becasue of the groin injury he carried and then had operated on late in the year.Very hard to run fast with a groin problem .Things are not always as black and white as you seem to make them when you judge players ;)
The key will be for him to stay injury free. Currently he is in great shape. If he stays that way he will find his old form. If he does get injured again he will struggle to get back to his best.
You cant see things becasue you dont take into account all the facts.....

[hulld]

he was in great shape this time last year as well and he ended up giving us nothing

[The Dustbin]

he was in great shape this time last year as well and he ended up giving us nothing

Your obviously referring to JJ's great shape before he injured his foot......

[ant555]

he was in great shape this time last year as well and he ended up giving us nothing

Was that when he missed a big block of pre season due to his toe injury ?
Like i said you just tee off without even knowing the facts......
He was getting back to form when he injured his groin and his for tailed off again.

[hulld]

he wasn't the only player to suffer an injury during the pre-season. once again he has missed time on the track mainly because his body isnt up to a full season of afl footy. i hope i am wrong.....but i wont be

[ant555]

he wasn't the only player to suffer an injury during the pre-season. once again he has missed time on the track mainly because his body isnt up to a full season of afl footy. i hope i am wrong.....but i wont be

No he wasn't but out of the players who did how many survived a full season who where injured in the pre season ?. None did.
You have now changed what you where saying anyway. At no stage did you mention injury before. Now some facts have been pointed out you come out with a different line ;)
Im not convinced he can get through the season without injury. The last three seasons have shown that but if he stays fit he is still good enough.

[kelvin_sheedy]

Good news about him going great guns during pre-season but I doubt his body will hold up.

If he gets injured and misses a few weeks he should retire gracefully or be told to retire as he needs to be at %100 to contribute.

[Merv Neagle]

Veteran Don fit, ready to play
Jon Ralph | February 22, 2008 12:00am

IT'S an irony Jason Johnson admits he can't ignore. The same 2006 contract controversy that tested his loyalty to Essendon has ultimately ensured his survival.

Recently turned 30, and having endured two years of frustration caused by constant injuries, Johnson is aware the first two months of the AFL season are the most critical of his 12-year career.
While premiership teammates Dean Solomon and Mark Johnson have been cast aside, he remains in Essendon colours.
And while at one stage Johnson felt bitter that the club publicly made him wait before agreeing to a two-year deal, it has now become the contract that saved him.

Just 12 months after winning his second best-and-fairest award - his fifth top-three finish - Johnson endured a mediocre 2006 and was initially offered a 12-month contract.
"It's fair to say if I had come out last year, I would have been in the same position Mark Johnson was. I have thought a lot about that and it is why I didn't resent (former coach Kevin Sheedy) or have any bad feelings toward him," Johnson said.
"At the end of the day, Sheeds was the one who gave me the second year. He pulled me off the table and said, 'If we can't get a first-round pick for him, give him his two years'.
"At the end of the day, if I didn't have those two years, would I still be playing AFL footy? I don't know."

The good news for Essendon fans is that Johnson is finally injury-free and determined to extend his career by at least another season.
"The common theme now is that if you get to 28-30, and you aren't playing good football, you are seen to be past it. I just have to rely on the things that kept me in the game for so long, and have a bit of luck," Johnson said.
New coach Matthew Knights has made no promises, but Johnson knows there is a role to play in a midfield short on strong bodies and experience.
"The feedback (from Knights) has been really good. If I do what he wants me to do, he will reward me with a spot," Johnson said.
"It's up to me and that's the thing that makes me feel so refreshed this year.
"I felt Sheeds lost confidence in me and I haven't asked him that, but then it made me lose confidence in myself and my ability to play. That's what your head does to you."

In late 2005 the load spread by an arthritic big toe put such pressure on Johnson's foot he needed a total reconstruction to repair tendons and ligaments of his plantar plate.
Last year he needed more treatment on the foot over the pre-season, and soon after he returned in Round 6 the groin that would later require post-season surgery began to trouble him.
By the last third of the season, Johnson had decided he had to rest, even if it meant missing the farewell of James Hird and Kevin Sheedy.
"I didn't want to play at 75 per cent and see anyone forming opinions. I just wanted to get the season over and start afresh with a new coach," he said.
Sheedy and Hird are gone, and Johnson knows it could be him at season's end.

But for a player who has reached greater heights than he ever thought possible, that would not be the slap in the face it once might have been.
"I have never lost sight of where I have come from. Two years ago I would have dreaded it, but I am content in the place I am at and excited about what's happening at the club," Johnson said.
"To turn 30, I know what I want out of life and what direction I want to go in. I am not scared about what is ahead of me. I am excited about it."


We need JJ's hardened body rotating through the midfield this year, and getting the ball out to the runners.

His importance to our kids development is underestimated by some.

[DaSawx]

We need JJ's hardened body rotating through the midfield this year, and getting the ball out to the runners.

His importance to our kids development is underestimated by some.

Spot on.

Looking forward to seeing what he can do this year, dominated the end of 2006 when he had some fitness.

[~RFM~]

Was standing near him during a concert last night...didn't recognise any of his mates.

Finally took the opportunity to wish him a good 2008 and let him know I'm a big fan of the team as people were leaving...(I hate coming across as a groupie, so I kept it low key)

Was pleased to see him abstaining from alcohol...:p

[Sean.]

I really really hope JJ has a big season this year. He's my first or 2nd favourite player. I loved watching him back around 2001 (even though I was only 8) bursting through the packs and kicking great running goals.

So how was his pre-season this year? Did he play well in the NAB cup and practice matches? I was never able to watch the NAB cup because of cricket, so I dunno how our guys went.

[hulld]

apparantly he had a good pre-season but you wouldn't have known it after watching him in the nab cup. the modern game has passed him by and he'll be spending most of his time at bendigo one would think

[Margim]

Was encouraged by his contribution yesterday. Although not brilliant, I think he showed a bit more confidence than I remember last year. An aging player who still thinks he has a bit to offer.

Having a coach who believes in you, possibly?

[aintplayin03]

Was encouraged by his contribution yesterday. Although not brilliant, I think he showed a bit more confidence than I remember last year. An aging player who still thinks he has a bit to offer.

Having a coach who believes in you, possibly?

JJ has been a great contributor for us, IMO he is an absolute champion of the club and his B&F's back this up. In the future, we'll need more players like him, bigger bodied guys who are real in and under players, as we obviously have the pace coming through. Similar to Robert Harvey, not quick but always gives 100%. You are completely right with the coach call, which is the case with many players that are finally getting played and showing Sheeds up as a result. JJ=champion.

[Minglis]

Perhaps also knowing your spot in the team is a week to week proposition, especially given its effectively an either-or arms wrestle with a long standing mate (Pev) is adding a little urgency to his game...

[Slattery_20]

Was encouraged by his contribution yesterday. Although not brilliant, I think he showed a bit more confidence than I remember last year. An aging player who still thinks he has a bit to offer.

Having a coach who believes in you, possibly?
I was under the impression he's been carrying a broken bone in his foot for about 3 years & it's finally fixed
Had a good finish to 06 & start to 07
Hopefully we can see him used in bursts or spells, & Knights isn't afraid to rest him completely when he's out of the seniors

[GoDons]

Was one of the driving forces in getting us back in the game in the 2nd quarter.

He really showed the benefit of experience and a hardened body.

Hopefully he's in for another good one against Geelong this week; we need him to be.

[Andre 2000]

Yep.. his composure and experience off the bench was invaluable. Has doubters, but as usual JJ is a fighter.

[Merv Neagle]

ESSENDON midfielder Jason Johnson's nightmare season continued after a calf injury sidelined him for a further month.

Johnson was one week away from a VFL return with Bendigo before he aggravated the injury last week at training.
The veteran is in the last season of his 12-year career at the Bombers after being told by coach Matthew Knights that his senior opportunities were limited.
Johnson's form was so solid he was considered a chance of being elevated to the seniors before the injury.
Now he will have to again rehabilitate his calf before what shapes as a late-season farewell game, along with club stalwart Damien Peverill.
Johnson told the Herald Sun earlier this year that he was happy to confront the next chapter of his life when he moved on from Essendon.
"I have never lost sight of where I have come from," Johnson said.
"To turn 30, I know what I want out of life and what direction I want to go in.
"I am not scared about what is ahead of me. I am excited about it."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23918183-19742,00.html

[Pawtucket Patriot]

Sad news about JJ. He has been a great servant of the club.

[Sean.]

It's nearly the end for JJ. :(

[essendon2008]

Please don't delist Johnson at the end of the year! I still think he can be valuable to us next year.

[bomber69]

Please get your body right so we can give you the send off you deserve!

Champion

[windyhill]

Welcome back son !