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A dream for Johnson
It was a case of better late than never for Kane Johnson as he finally completed his dream move to Richmond by pulling on the Tigers’ jumper for the first time on Sunday.
Johnson, a dual premiership player with Adelaide, almost joined Richmond – the club he supported as a boy - at the end of last season in a swap for Ben Holland but the deal fell through at the last minute.
But in 2002 there were no last minute hiccups as Johnson finally got the chance to return to his native Melbourne after seven years in Adelaide where he established himself as one of the competition’s classiest wingman.
“It’s a relief after last year,” Johnson said on Sunday as he pulled on the Tigers’ jumper for the first time while also meeting Richmond coach Danny Frawley at Punt Road.
“Last year I thought I was coming here as well and then it fell through so I’m very happy to be here and I just want to get on with it now.”
Johnson admitted he kept a close eye on Richmond’s results during his time at Adelaide and can hardly wait to be a part of one of the competition’s biggest and most passionate clubs.
“It’s going to be a thrill to run out in the colors and hopefully sing the song after the game a few times and it’s certainly a good song.”
“The club has got a good feel about it. It’s got a lot of history and the place just makes you feel really at home.”
While Johnson’s ability can never be questioned – the 101 game veteran gathered more than 20 possessions in 14 of his 16 matches this season – his durability has often been a concern due to a history of soft tissue injuries, especially hamstring problems.
However Johnson assured Tigers fans those problems were now behind him.
“The body is good,” he said.
“I’ve still been training the last month or so. I really haven’t slackened off at all so I’m feeling good and ready to go.”
“The last two years I’ve had nowhere near as many (soft tissue injuries) and I seemed to get a lot of games under my belt.”
“The only thing this year was I had a bit of a bowel problem but I got over that and other than that, everything has been pretty good.”
The Tigers have recruited Johnson specifically to help cure their problem area in midfield and the 24-yer-old said he was looking forward to not only passing on his experience to young Tiger midfielders such as Mark Coughlan and David Rodan but also picking up a few new tips himself from experienced Richmond on-ballers such as skipper Wayne Campbell.
“They (Richmond) have got a young midfield at the moment so hopefully I can teach them a bit and they can teach me and we can all gel together and become a strong midfield.”
And while Johnson’s move to Richmond denies him the chance to play with the great Wayne Carey at Adelaide – Johnson admits he is looking forward to playing with another of the AFL’s champion forwards at Tigerland – Matthew Richardson.
“That was obviously a big thing for me,” he said of the chance to play with Richardson at Richmond.
“I wanted to see Richardson signed because it will be handy kicking the ball up to him.”
“At Adelaide they lacked one of those big forwards so it will be good to have him (Richardson) down there.”
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Yous have got your man, expect him to tear it up next year for the Tigers.
A dream for Johnson
It was a case of better late than never for Kane Johnson as he finally completed his dream move to Richmond by pulling on the Tigers’ jumper for the first time on Sunday.
Johnson, a dual premiership player with Adelaide, almost joined Richmond – the club he supported as a boy - at the end of last season in a swap for Ben Holland but the deal fell through at the last minute.
But in 2002 there were no last minute hiccups as Johnson finally got the chance to return to his native Melbourne after seven years in Adelaide where he established himself as one of the competition’s classiest wingman.
“It’s a relief after last year,” Johnson said on Sunday as he pulled on the Tigers’ jumper for the first time while also meeting Richmond coach Danny Frawley at Punt Road.
“Last year I thought I was coming here as well and then it fell through so I’m very happy to be here and I just want to get on with it now.”
Johnson admitted he kept a close eye on Richmond’s results during his time at Adelaide and can hardly wait to be a part of one of the competition’s biggest and most passionate clubs.
“It’s going to be a thrill to run out in the colors and hopefully sing the song after the game a few times and it’s certainly a good song.”
“The club has got a good feel about it. It’s got a lot of history and the place just makes you feel really at home.”
While Johnson’s ability can never be questioned – the 101 game veteran gathered more than 20 possessions in 14 of his 16 matches this season – his durability has often been a concern due to a history of soft tissue injuries, especially hamstring problems.
However Johnson assured Tigers fans those problems were now behind him.
“The body is good,” he said.
“I’ve still been training the last month or so. I really haven’t slackened off at all so I’m feeling good and ready to go.”
“The last two years I’ve had nowhere near as many (soft tissue injuries) and I seemed to get a lot of games under my belt.”
“The only thing this year was I had a bit of a bowel problem but I got over that and other than that, everything has been pretty good.”
The Tigers have recruited Johnson specifically to help cure their problem area in midfield and the 24-yer-old said he was looking forward to not only passing on his experience to young Tiger midfielders such as Mark Coughlan and David Rodan but also picking up a few new tips himself from experienced Richmond on-ballers such as skipper Wayne Campbell.
“They (Richmond) have got a young midfield at the moment so hopefully I can teach them a bit and they can teach me and we can all gel together and become a strong midfield.”
And while Johnson’s move to Richmond denies him the chance to play with the great Wayne Carey at Adelaide – Johnson admits he is looking forward to playing with another of the AFL’s champion forwards at Tigerland – Matthew Richardson.
“That was obviously a big thing for me,” he said of the chance to play with Richardson at Richmond.
“I wanted to see Richardson signed because it will be handy kicking the ball up to him.”
“At Adelaide they lacked one of those big forwards so it will be good to have him (Richardson) down there.”
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Yous have got your man, expect him to tear it up next year for the Tigers.
