Player Watch Ash Johnson (Delisted 2025)

[The Royal Sampler]

Howe's performance up forward might have just buried Ash, Moore's health permitting

Frampton down back and Howe up forward adds a ton of;

 

[delta_magpie]

i was hoping since ash was a mature age player he wouldnt have that "not interested" body language a lot of the kids have coming into the AFL system.

Hes got huge upsides i believe still and just needs to tighten some area's.

P.S someone get him footy shorts that fit! hes always pulling them down haha

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

I've reread this a number of times. I'd like one of those telepathic thingies, to work out what you are saying. It is off topic, happy to take it somewhere else but interested in what you are actually getting at. I see it reasonable to question whether calling AJ lazy is racial stereotyping. That is a point of discussion. I object to assuming it is. It creates taboos around terms and groups of people. We are not educating by this trend, we are alienating.

I am with you here. I found the essence of sr36's post escaped my comprehension and eventually left it alone. Didn't know whether he was trying to be Arthur or Martha. If he wants to be a bit of both or neither at all, that's fine by me too. Just don't expect I am going to work any harder at the pronouns.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

i was hoping since ash was a mature age player he wouldnt have that "not interested" body language a lot of the kids have coming into the AFL system.

Hes got huge upsides i believe still and just needs to tighten some area's.

P.S someone get him footy shorts that fit! hes always pulling them down haha

Cameron likes to show off his corset too.

 

[3rdMan]

One of our few missteps in selection I feel. We should have greater clarity at this stage of the season. Bringing AJ back for one game, then immediately dropping him after the whole team performed poorly and no forward could be expected to perform isn’t great.

Assume we were 50/50 on whether to play Howe forward against the Hawks, decided against it, then after one more game became convinced it was the necessary move. Feel that's a little too reactive and shows we're a bit uncertain at the moment. Not a great place to be in so close to finals. Need to build confidence across the club over next few weeks regardless of results.

 

[gouki88]

One of our few missteps in selection I feel. We should have greater clarity at this stage of the season. Bringing AJ back for one game, then immediately dropping him after the whole team performed poorly and no forward could be expected to perform isn’t great.

Assume we were 50/50 on whether to play Howe forward against the Hawks, decided against it, then after one more game became convinced it was the necessary move. Feel that's a little too reactive and shows we're a bit uncertain at the moment. Not a great place to be in so close to finals. Need to build confidence across the club over next few weeks regardless of results.

The Johnson selection over the past chunk of the season (dropped off fairly good form, brought back for one week then dropped) has run a bit counter to the mantra of backing players in to my eye. Not privy to the other factors they consider though, so he might be missing targets elsewhere

 

[sr36]

I am with you here. I found the essence of sr36's post escaped my comprehension and eventually left it alone. Didn't know whether he was trying to be Arthur or Martha. If he wants to be a bit of both or neither at all, that's fine by me too. Just don't expect I am going to work any harder at the pronouns.

He/him.

To simplify it.

If someone suggests that there could be some racial stereotyping going on, the response tends to be: "That's definitely not racist." " Woke world gone mad." " PC rucbbish" "Definitely not racist." "How can anyone think that's racist." "Blah, blah blah"

Some even digress to pronouns...

Meanwhile, no one actually knows whether there was racial stereotyping involved.

 

[live fast pieyoung]

The Johnson selection over the past chunk of the season (dropped off fairly good form, brought back for one week then dropped) has run a bit counter to the mantra of backing players in to my eye. Not privy to the other factors they consider though, so he might be missing targets elsewhere

Its because its being determined more by our ruck situation and their performance, than his own really. AJ and McStay got mauled in the ruck, so it doesnt look like a viable strategy.

 

[Mollythedolly]

My take on Ash Johnson is that he simply does not do enough apart from marking & in turn kicking for goal ( which he is very good at). OK. He needs to place far more physical pressure on opposition defenders in terms of tackling, spoiling & doing those things that David Parkin originally labelled "SACRIFICIAL ACTS" back in the 1980's. Using more contemporary language, I just want to see him have a "RED HOT GO" for a full 120 minutes. Goodnight & good luck.

I think his age shifts the perceptions about Johnson. I don’t think he’s performing that differently to most 2nd or 3rd year KPF’s. Doubt he’ll ever go all Ronnie Andrew’s in the aggression stakes but does need to improve his 1v1 contested work. Remains a work in progress but we are seeing an improvement in his workrate so I think his contested work will also improve.

 

[Mollythedolly]

He'd be looking at Mihocek playing terribly and thinking why am I being dropped!?

Mihocek hasn’t been playing terribly, he just wasn’t converting with his normal accuracy. Turned that back around Friday.

 

[manicpie]

Mihocek hasn’t been playing terribly, he just wasn’t converting with his normal accuracy. Turned that back around Friday.

The way we moved the ball quickly also helped

 

[Mollythedolly]

The way we moved the ball quickly also helped

Meant his shots were a lot closer in.

 

[noideaatall]

I find it all a but confusing. Forwards bear the blame for what most of the time is determined by what's happening in the middle. Beating Geelong was not because our forwards performed bettrr

 

[TradeDraft]

I find it all a but confusing. Forwards bear the blame for what most of the time is determined by what's happening in the middle. Beating Geelong was not because our forwards performed bettrr

Our Forwards is big Reason we lost to Carlton

 

[noideaatall]

Our Forwards is big Reason we lost to Carlton

Yet if we had shut down Curnow arguably we would have won.
Section has frustrated me last few games. One of Ash or Cox has to play & they need to hold the faith, not a new structure every week. Good as Howe is I'd much rather him playing back, creating opportunities forward.

 

[sr36]

I find it all a but confusing. Forwards bear the blame for what most of the time is determined by what's happening in the middle. Beating Geelong was not because our forwards performed bettrr

They cop it whenever we lose - as though they're expected to conjure up more goals from less and inferior opportunities than the opposition forwards. I actually thought our forwards were very good against Carlton - except for goal kicking - they were clunking everything. And pretty good against Hawthorn too. At least in terms of attack - who knows who to blame when our defensive game doesn't stack up.

 

[VinnieB]

He has had 5 tackles in his last 8 games. 3 of those games he didn’t lay a tackle. The other 5 he has 1 tackle each game.

Says to me he needs to work to keep the ball in the forward line. He should know that.

 

[ipswichpies]

If there were not such big question on Krueger,s durability I would have him in ahead of both Johnson and Cox, for a big man he has very good speed and shirks no issues.
I just hope next he can build his continuity next season because I think he works harder than either Cox or Johnson.

 

[Mollythedolly]

He has had 5 tackles in his last 8 games. 3 of those games he didn’t lay a tackle. The other 5 he has 1 tackle each game.

Says to me he needs to work to keep the ball in the forward line. He should know that.

And………

Not sure cherry picking 1 stat in isolation for a player is overly meaningful. I agree, he needs to work harder defensively, but I’m not sure tackles is the only measure of that.

 

[RobJD]

If there were not such big question on Krueger,s durability I would have him in ahead of both Johnson and Cox, for a big man he has very good speed and shirks no issues.
I just hope next he can build his continuity next season because I think he works harder than either Cox or Johnson.

Agree, wouldn't be surprised to see him selected this year - he's capable of far better F50 defensive efforts that either Cox or Johnson, he's got better leg speed and he can crunch a pack. He's also got a good leg on him and could play D50 at a pinch.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

And………

Not sure cherry picking 1 stat in isolation for a player is overly meaningful. I agree, he needs to work harder defensively, but I’m not sure tackles is the only measure of that.

Do you have a stat demonstrating defensive application that counters this? Because tackle numbers is a reasonable measuring stick.

 

[noideaatall]

Agree, wouldn't be surprised to see him selected this year - he's capable of far better F50 defensive efforts that either Cox or Johnson, he's got better leg speed and he can crunch a pack. He's also got a good leg on him and could play D50 at a pinch.

I would have thought he is too similar to mcstay. Great to have people crunching packs but a mark occasionally would be nice.

 

[sr36]

Do you have a stat demonstrating defensive application that counters this? Because tackle numbers is a reasonable measuring stick.

It's the recovery which gets them tackle stats - not many run downs in the forward line even for McCreery and Hill. McStay gets good tackle stats as he immediately adjusts to a ground ball contest after the aerial contest. He's too slow to be much of a chaser. AJ's head is still in the marking contest after it's finished.

 

[manicpie]

Maybe we should try and get his brother from Adelaide, I reckon AJ would love it and his brother ain't bad

 

[sr36]

I would have thought he is too similar to mcstay. Great to have people crunching packs but a mark occasionally would be nice.

Similar is good - it's who he'd be chopping out.

I'm a fan of McStay, Mihocek and Howe. Thought it looked excellent. Just gave a great contest. Unless we're willing to play the second ruck out of defence - it'll be a guy who chops out the three tall forwards and ruck. When Moore is back, if Frampton becomes the second ruck- he may also chop out the defenders for the very short period of time that they need it - he's also excellent injury cover.