View Full Version : Courtney Johns - how many chances?
Alistair
25 Apr 2008, 18:04
Does anyone actually see something positive from this bloke? How many chances can he possibly receive?
I remember him receiving a ball on the Member's wing from Monfries, then spearing it into the forward 50. Other than that, he was a bumbling liability today.
I actually found myself applauding when the umpire took his number :o
The axe can't fall soon enough.
Wahooti Fandango
25 Apr 2008, 18:08
His time is definitely up.
Windas_Magic
25 Apr 2008, 18:10
Looks like Essendon have wasted a hell of a lot of time developing him as a backman. He will never make it as a defender and is a one trick pony up forward (lead, mark, goal) which won't work. He, Monfries, Laycock and others are players that had high hopes but aren't delivering
Daytripper
25 Apr 2008, 18:12
There were a lot worse than CJ out there today but they get let off from supporters because they're 'young'.
Lets not just go for the standard scapegoats again.
loopy_cam
25 Apr 2008, 18:15
There were a lot worse than CJ out there today but they get let off from supporters because they're 'young'.
Lets not just go for the standard scapegoats again.
Who?
Colin D'Cops
25 Apr 2008, 18:17
He has got to go at the completion of the year, he has had many chances to prove himself but has let us down on several occasions....
Daytripper
25 Apr 2008, 18:19
Who?
Pears - did SFA today.
Monfries - useless
Ryder - 2 quiet games in a row. Travis Cloke tore him a new one. Admittedly it was hard considering the way it was delivered.
Nash - has a beautiful kicking action but can't hit the side of a barn door at the moment.
Laycock - very disappointing.
Lloyd - has not been the same player since his injury.
Question is why is he still on your list. Should have gone 2-3 years ago...
Can put Laycock in the same category.
loopy_cam
25 Apr 2008, 18:23
There were a lot worse than CJ out there today but they get let off from supporters because they're 'young'.
Lets not just go for the standard scapegoats again.
Pears - did SFA today.
Monfries - useless
Ryder - 2 quiet games in a row. Travis Cloke tore him a new one. Admittedly it was hard considering the way it was delivered.
Nash - has a beautiful kicking action but can't hit the side of a barn door at the moment.
Laycock - very disappointing.
Lloyd - has not been the same player since his injury.
Monfries, Nash and Laycock are being criticised heavily.
Lloyd 'Young'?
Ryder was unlucky. He's been one of our best this year. He wasn;t too bad last week. This was an off day.
The only one getting off is Pears but what can you expect from a third gamer?
Windas_Magic
25 Apr 2008, 18:24
Pears - did SFA today.
Monfries - useless
Ryder - 2 quiet games in a row. Travis Cloke tore him a new one. Admittedly it was hard considering the way it was delivered.
Nash - has a beautiful kicking action but can't hit the side of a barn door at the moment.
Laycock - very disappointing.
Lloyd - has not been the same player since his injury.
although he had the 6 touches and was quiet, he has done very well at beating his opponents and did alright on Cloke (Cloked killed McPhee and Johns and kicked most of his goals against them).
I would drop Laycock and give him a game in the ruck, just to give him some more touches and confidence
retroparty
25 Apr 2008, 18:28
Lets hope Jay Neagle plays well in the 2nds because he should be coming in for big Courtney. Or maybe Knights will want an extra runner in the team but lets just get Johns out of the side ASAP.
Daytripper
25 Apr 2008, 18:32
although he had the 6 touches and was quiet, he has done very well at beating his opponents and did alright on Cloke (Cloked killed McPhee and Johns and kicked most of his goals against them).
I would drop Laycock and give him a game in the ruck, just to give him some more touches and confidence
Don't know what game you were watching. Cloke was all over Paddy in the first half.
Daytripper
25 Apr 2008, 18:34
The only one getting off is Pears but what can you expect from a third gamer?
And I accept that.
However its time he went back to Bendigo for a spell.
lemon chicken
25 Apr 2008, 18:41
Dyson 55 matches
Johns 20 matches
If we can keep playing Dyson we can keep playing Johns. Only thing I'd knock Johns for today is he struggled with the pace of the game, he should get more than one match.
Windas_Magic
25 Apr 2008, 18:42
Don't know what game you were watching. Cloke was all over Paddy in the first half.
Cloke did most of his damage on Johns and McPhee and the only reason Cloke was getting on top of Ryder was because Collingwoods midfield had no pressure and had plenty of time to kick it to him.
Mighty Reds
25 Apr 2008, 18:43
Any chance we can trade Johns to Fremantle for say Pavlich. ;)
Daytripper
25 Apr 2008, 18:44
Cloke did most of his damage on Johns and McPhee and the only reason Cloke was getting on top of Ryder was because Collingwoods midfield had no pressure and had plenty of time to kick it to him.
Were you at the game ?
McPhee played forward for nearly all of the first three quarters. Don't know why he cops it. If every player had as big a heart as him we would be competitive every match.
Bomber57
25 Apr 2008, 18:46
All over red rover along with others
stander
25 Apr 2008, 18:48
Were you at the game ?
McPhee played forward for nearly all of the first three quarters. Don't know why he cops it. If every player had as big a heart as him we would be competitive every match.
No I wasn't. My conclusion is Johns is a forward only, McPhee is a half back flanker only.
The Donners
25 Apr 2008, 18:58
Pears - did SFA today.
Monfries - useless
Ryder - 2 quiet games in a row. Travis Cloke tore him a new one. Admittedly it was hard considering the way it was delivered.
Nash - has a beautiful kicking action but can't hit the side of a barn door at the moment.
Laycock - very disappointing.
Lloyd - has not been the same player since his injury.
Lloyd is hardly young.
Ryder shat on Riewoldt last week, what game were you watching, some d!ckhead name Knights took Ryder off Riewoldt last week.
I'm starting to think Knights is nothing but a younger version of Sheedy, playing his men out of position and having a soft no-accountability mentality!!!
SOFT
he had it kicked to his chest when he was leading once. he marked it and kicked a goal.
it's not his fault if he is playing on midfielders like pendlebury and lockyer.
timbo3195
25 Apr 2008, 19:02
CJ sucks, no questions asked.
Laycock is better than atleast half the other team's 2nd ruckman, he does enough.
Nash is a gun, confidence needs some work though.
Monfries, shit (:
Slattery, not great, but I have a feeling he could do what Rawlings does for the roos, he's quite the tagger.
Winderlich in the back pocket = dumb.
Lloyd must always be a Full Forward!, not a CHF, or a f'n Wingman, stay in the forward 50 goddamnit!
If i was coach (: :
Drop CJ, Monfries, NLM, Pears
Bring in Myers, Neagle, Hislop, Daniher :o
Windas_Magic
25 Apr 2008, 19:04
Were you at the game ?
McPhee played forward for nearly all of the first three quarters. Don't know why he cops it. If every player had as big a heart as him we would be competitive every match.
McPhee played on him a bit in the last quarter and got one or two goals kicked on him quickly. Johns just got out-classed and Ryder didn't concede many goals to Cloke. He was beaten yes, but if Fletch, Mal or Johns played on him for the whole game he would've easily got 8 goals
johns isn't that good (far from it probably) but knights did screw him with the tasks he set him. in his press conference he said johns would come in to assist lloyd up forward then he plays him on pendlebury......
Sigmund
25 Apr 2008, 19:14
CJ sucks, no questions asked.
Laycock is better than atleast half the other team's 2nd ruckman, he does enough.
Nash is a gun, confidence needs some work though.
Monfries, shit (:
Slattery, not great, but I have a feeling he could do what Rawlings does for the roos, he's quite the tagger.
Winderlich in the back pocket = dumb.
Lloyd must always be a Full Forward!, not a CHF, or a f'n Wingman, stay in the forward 50 goddamnit!
If i was coach (: :
Drop CJ, Monfries, NLM, Pears
Bring in Myers, Neagle, Hislop, Daniher :o
Does enough? How exactly do you define enough in Jason's case?
See no future in dropping Pears... He has been solid for 2 weeks.. not so much today but we have to expect this from a young player.. Clearly has the ability to read the game which is number 1 trait of any good player
Alistair
25 Apr 2008, 19:39
Only thing I'd knock Johns for today is he struggled with the pace of the game, he should get more than one match.
No. Johns is just a stupid footballer. He can't seem to read the game.
Big Blow Hard
25 Apr 2008, 21:03
That was his last cahnce. CJ will not play again for Essendon unless we are really out of players. Heck, I would delist him right now. Can't play foward, Can;'t play back. No more chances IMO. Enough is Enough.
THOMO_31
25 Apr 2008, 21:29
Cloke did most of his damage on Johns and McPhee and the only reason Cloke was getting on top of Ryder was because Collingwoods midfield had no pressure and had plenty of time to kick it to him.
i dont rekon paddy was that bad 2day. he wasnt his usual best but i rekon in the 1st half they would of been happy with cloke takin those marks up the ground.as on paper didnt have another key ''forward'' down there. medhurst ended up popping up same with there other small forwards. and cloke kicked most of his goals in junk time in the last quarter
And I accept that.
However its time he went back to Bendigo for a spell.
Pears has a better footy brain than some players 5 years older.
Slattery has the footy brain of a retarded baby goat.
I'd keep players in the side who can use it under pressure, we'll surely play better next week but if we keep turning it over we will play another team into form.
The Donners
26 Apr 2008, 11:35
Pears has a better footy brain than some players 5 years older.
Slattery has the footy brain of a retarded baby goat.
I'd keep players in the side who can use it under pressure, we'll surely play better next week but if we keep turning it over we will play another team into form.
Hahahahahahahaha
Windas_Magic
26 Apr 2008, 11:40
Pears has a better footy brain than some players 5 years older.
Slattery has the footy brain of a retarded baby goat.
I'd keep players in the side who can use it under pressure, we'll surely play better next week but if we keep turning it over we will play another team into form.
Hahahahahahahaha
Yet it's true
The Donners
26 Apr 2008, 11:54
Yet it's true
Not denial from here! :D
What a pisser though! :thumbsu:
... retarded baby goat! Classic!!! :D
Big Blow Hard
26 Apr 2008, 11:57
I sure I represent all those Retarded Baby Goats, who can't defend themselves (because their hooves make it hard to type), in saying, "We resent the comparison!"
Deep Blue
26 Apr 2008, 12:18
Johns is an old-style player and is really probably limited to full-forward as a potential replacement for Lloyd; he has the build to become a Mal Michael replacement, but I don't think he has a natural defender's mental discipline. His confidence would have taken a real battering yesterday, but he should be given more opportunities before the end of the year to see if he can "cut the mustard" especially whilst Lucas and Gumbleton are out of the side.
Liked the idea of Fletcher up-forward, better delivery and nailing a few shots could have seen "the experiment" work - he at least deserves more cameos up forward.
The Donners
26 Apr 2008, 15:22
Johns is an old-style player and is really probably limited to full-forward as a potential replacement for Lloyd; he has the build to become a Mal Michael replacement, but I don't think he has a natural defender's mental discipline. His confidence would have taken a real battering yesterday, but he should be given more opportunities before the end of the year to see if he can "cut the mustard" especially whilst Lucas and Gumbleton are out of the side.
Liked the idea of Fletcher up-forward, better delivery and nailing a few shots could have seen "the experiment" work - he at least deserves more cameos up forward.
Except old-style players had balls!
Optimax
26 Apr 2008, 15:43
Anyone read the article on him in todays age?
i know your pain with shit players though, how richards stayed on teh list and before him walker, hall and morrison will never cease to amaze me
The Donners
26 Apr 2008, 16:08
Anyone read the article on him in todays age?
i know your pain with shit players though, how richards stayed on teh list and before him walker, hall and morrison will never cease to amaze me
What was The Age saying?
I rated Walker... if only he could've got out on the park!
rolandproducts
26 Apr 2008, 16:11
What was The Age saying?
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/can-the-bombers-persist-with-johns/2008/04/25/1208743260687.html?page=2
How long can the Bombers persist with Johns?
Rohan Connolly | April 26, 2008
IF KEPLER Bradley was watching yesterday's Anzac Day clash from his loungeroom in Perth, he might have had more than a touch of deja vu. He certainly would have been sparing a thought for former teammate Courtney Johns.
It was this game last year that effectively finished the mobile tall's career with Essendon. Picked for the blockbuster against Collingwood, Bradley had a stinker. He fumbled, hesitated, picked too many wrong options, and in the final insult, had a hospital pass across his defensive goal square intercepted, the Magpies' resultant goal sealing their win.
Bradley played just two more games for the Bombers before being off-loaded to Fremantle in post-season trading. Injuries might force Essendon to play Johns a little more than that over the next few months, but if ever a game was going to hammer the final nail in the coffin of a career, Johns played it yesterday.
For some, the writing had appeared on the wall when Matthew Lloyd joined Scott Lucas on the injured list a fortnight ago, and still Johns couldn't earn a spot in the Bombers' best available 22. But even the staunchest supporters of the club's long-term project player must now be having grave doubts, too.
With Lucas out until mid-season, Lloyd struggling and Dustin Fletcher forced to the other end of the ground, then injured, Essendon badly needed something from the Western Australian big man, picked for his first game of the year, be it goals, some strong marking, even just a presence. He couldn't deliver. Never does.
This wasn't even one of those games where Johns would take a couple of strong grabs in a little cameo, just enough to have a few important people at Windy Hill wondering whether all their patience might still amount to something.
It was all bad. From Collingwood's first goal, when Scott Pendlebury slipped Johns' lunging attempt at a tackle with ridiculous ease and fed off to Ben Johnson. To the moment later in the same quarter when, Essendon having kicked three goals in a row and with momentum behind it, Johns unnecessarily charged into Pendlebury's back, gave away 50 metres and was reported for his trouble.
To the start of the second, the Dons still in front, and having built an attack in which the ball ended with Johns storming into goal on the run. With no pressure on, he could have made the margin two goals. He missed, the ball rebounded for Collingwood to tie the scores, then slam on another five goals for good measure to effectively end the contest.
Then there was the start of the third term, the big blond now opposed to Magpie key forward Travis Cloke. And this was a truly embarrassing moment, Cloke just slipping behind Johns and into space on the lead, a good 10 metres clear as the Essendon man stood flat-footed, watching the ball. Result? Another Collingwood goal.
He'd be benched again in time-on, returning as a forward late in the final term with all the sting gone to kick his only goal of the game. Woo hoo.
Of course, it wasn't Johns' fault that he'd initially been given a task he couldn't handle, far too cumbersome for the smarts of Pendlebury, much as Tarkyn Lockyer looked far too nimble for big Mal Michael, and Jason Winderlich all at sea on Anzac medallist Paul Medhurst.
But that early moment on Pendlebury and that later one with Cloke were significant. Essendon has made much of attempting to turn Johns into a key defender. But these little incidents showed a player still with apparently not much of a clue about how to play in the back line. Or with much football nous at all, for that matter.
Essendon has been exceedingly patient with Johns. He's been on the books since 2003, and played his first senior game four seasons ago. Yesterday's was just his 20th. At this rate, he'll be playing his 50th in 2014 at the age of 29. How long are the Dons prepared to go before admitting defeat?
It was the big occasion last year that exposed Bradley's frailties to a wider audience than normal, and sent an Essendon that had started the season pretty brightly into a bit of a tailspin. Yesterday's 73-point thumping threatens to do similarly to a team that has now lost yet another valuable runner, Alwyn Davey, for the rest of the season.
And perhaps another big man, too, in Fletcher. That will open the door for Johns once more. But perhaps it's time the Bombers had the decisiveness to keep it closed. The Johns experiment was a nice try. But Essendon needs to recognise, no matter how much pride needs to be swallowed, that this is one gamble which has failed.
The Donners
26 Apr 2008, 16:16
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/can-the-bombers-persist-with-johns/2008/04/25/1208743260687.html?page=2
Thanks mate! :thumbsu:
I agreed with everything in the article by the way!
rolandproducts
26 Apr 2008, 17:15
Thanks mate! :thumbsu:
I agreed with everything in the article by the way!
To be honest, i think we all sometimes get caught up in the "modern" brand of footy and footballers: insisting players must be able to play all over the park, both inside and outside and be both explosive and endurance athletes. Johns has not been given an opportunity to do one job (ostensibly the only job he can do) well over a period of time. Personally i would like to see him given a run in the team (possibly up until the return of Lucas) where he is instructed to play as a leading, deep forward who uses his size to monster a few marks or bring the ball to ground amongst a pile of defenders. If he is backed in and given the confidence and he fails...well he can see his career out in the VFL or at Fremantle...
It seems like such a waste to invest so much time and effort into a player to try and 'reinvent' him before he's even played 20 games.
The Donners
26 Apr 2008, 18:04
To be honest, i think we all sometimes get caught up in the "modern" brand of footy and footballers: insisting players must be able to play all over the park, both inside and outside and be both explosive and endurance athletes. Johns has not been given an opportunity to do one job (ostensibly the only job he can do) well over a period of time. Personally i would like to see him given a run in the team (possibly up until the return of Lucas) where he is instructed to play as a leading, deep forward who uses his size to monster a few marks or bring the ball to ground amongst a pile of defenders. If he is backed in and given the confidence and he fails...well he can see his career out in the VFL or at Fremantle...
It seems like such a waste to invest so much time and effort into a player to try and 'reinvent' him before he's even played 20 games.
He has the size to bash and crash and play the Sammy Hammil role across the half-forward line... alas Johns does not use his size for good but rather evil aka shit.
Mighty_bombers
26 Apr 2008, 18:55
You can't keep blame Johns all the time , for a starters his no backman he show he is a FORWARD (knights) , and what about Lloyd ? shit to ? cause his been outta form to ? how u meant to kick goals in the backline and dont have a clue whats going on ? , Lovett Murruy shit gotta go whats he done ? thats right NOTHING he be out the door before JOHNS
Hirdman
26 Apr 2008, 19:07
I was very surprised when he wasnt delisted last year, as he has showed that he is not smart enough up forward and far to slow to be a backman. In short Courney is not good enough, I thought he was the worst player on the ground on friday. In fact the one good thing that came out of that horrible game was that I think Courney has played his last game in the one's regardless of Fletcher's injury. Darcy was very good today and is the logical replacement......
DonMania#5
26 Apr 2008, 19:10
Take him out of the team and never bring him back, please.
How can he ever make it as a defender?
He has the turning circle of a mack-truck... He's going to get absolutely demolished every time the ball goes past him.
How can he ever make it as a defender?
He has the turning circle of a mack-truck... He's going to get absolutely demolished every time the ball goes past him.
A mack-truck can turn, he has the turning circle of Jaba the Hut
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3slta3_MS4
:D:D:D :(
Big Blow Hard
26 Apr 2008, 20:36
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3slta3_MS4
:D:D:D :(
Ha. I loved the Paddy Ryder tackle on Dale Thomas in one of the other clips that was next to it. :thumbsu:
johns is a gun
26 Apr 2008, 21:24
the article in the age is a bit harsh!!!!
the article in the age is a bit harsh!!!!
:D Welcome to BF Courtney.
gPhonque
27 Apr 2008, 20:12
Johns has not been given an opportunity to do one job (ostensibly the only job he can do) well over a period of time. Personally i would like to see him given a run in the team (possibly up until the return of Lucas) where he is instructed to play as a leading, deep forward who uses his size to monster a few marks or bring the ball to ground amongst a pile of defenders. If he is backed in and given the confidence and he fails...well he can see his career out in the VFL or at Fremantle...
It seems like such a waste to invest so much time and effort into a player to try and 'reinvent' him before he's even played 20 games.
That is by far the most sensible thing anybody has posted in this thread.
He has been playing in the back line for Bendigo for the last year and a half. He has been getting in the votes in a lot of games. When he gets up to AFL he isn't quick enough, hasn't got the skills and is very poor when the ball hits the ground. He has been given his chance, and now its time to look at other KPP's.
acursi08
28 Apr 2008, 14:35
I never want to see him down back again.:mad: He is a forward and I don't think that we should turn him into something that he isn't. Give him a few weeks only used as a forward and then let's see where he's at. If still no good, then I'm afraid that his time is almost certainly up.:o
Common CJ, I still have faith:thumbsu:
I don't think that we should turn him into something that he isn't.
We have been trying to turn him into a footballer :D
bombersno1
28 Apr 2008, 15:18
We have been trying to turn him into a footballer :D
Freo need a forward:D
Giggidy Giggidy
28 Apr 2008, 15:24
he had it kicked to his chest when he was leading once. he marked it and kicked a goal.
Obviously you aren't referring to the one when we were in front during the second quarter that bounced straight off of his chest and was subsequently rebounded down the other end for the first of Collingwood's long sequence of goals.
Turning point of the match IMO. (that & the Johns-Pendlebury incident in the first)
Bomber Stu
28 Apr 2008, 16:10
Wouldn't give him a game at Bendigo, you can make all the excuses you want about injuries, playing out of position, but when you brake it all down he is simply not up to AFL standard. We have kept players similar to him on the list for years during the Sheedy years is some hope he might "develop" and for every one that did "come good" there has been a half dozen that haven't.
rickydysonforbl
6 Jul 2008, 09:51
i have been critical of johns in the past but did like what i saw earlier this year, especially when he had a go in the backline. i really feel for him right now and do believe that, even though its not his fault, knights has to make the hard decision and delist him come season's end. to face adversity in the manner he has must mean that he is of good character and as a result surely we can find him a non-playing position at the club. wish him well in his recovery.
16 FLAGS
6 Jul 2008, 10:08
Knighter would of told him " your got till the end of the year to prove yourself " You could see when he did his knee how angry he was probably cos that chance has gone now.
Shane Hird
6 Jul 2008, 11:04
He can now forget about an AFL career and after his knee is fixed he can come back to WA and become a WAFL cult figure.
Peel Thunder will have him...
cAsEy_18
6 Jul 2008, 11:57
Depends how many draft picks we want. Mal, Peverill, JJ and Lee have to be gone, being a strong draft we might go for 5-6 and that would have Johns in trouble, but i'm keen to give Courtney a 1 year contract, playing him for 15 games as a foward, and show us what he can do. Doesn't matter if he's playing poorly, give him his time next year and show what he can do. Ofcourse, if his knee injury is seriously serious then we need to delist him.
WindyHillWatcher
7 Jul 2008, 01:26
He's shit. always has been. i never bought into the hype and laughed at the wankers on here claiming he was a gun. I've been calling for his head on a plate all year and come seasons end... it finally looks like my wish will come true:)
Windy Hill, your posts have been really disrespectful towards CJ.. I'm not a fan of him either but no need to treat him like shit.