Toast Farewell Johnno....

[Beak_A]

Back in that 2006 finals push he had the ball on a string and I thought he might be the first docker to win a brownlow one day.

Didn’t reach those heights but one of Freos best ever defenders and will always be one of my favourites

Good luck Johnno [emoji106]

 

[FreoRicci]

Absolute legend for Fremantle. Ageless, the way he held the ball prior to dropping it. Just a class act in defence. At the height of our great years, was a key part of 2006 finals and in 2012/13/15. Great longetivity could play on small or tall. Uses his body well. Will be sadly missed. Deserves 250 for the club, just couldn't quite get there.

Wish him all the luck.

 

[Quokka]

As others have said always great watching him sell candy and step aside and he always had one of the most unique balls drops. Undeniably did his best work coming out of defence but early in his career he had a good run on the wings and used to love watching him kick it inside 50.

 

[scon]

Johno and The Dodger danced bamboozle down back and sliced 'em up rebounding.

MJ was rarely exposed defensively, but on the only occasion he was truly pantsed; he did it himself.

No-one could lay a tackle or a glove on the fella once he got the strides back on though.

Champion of the club.

 

[Admiral Byng]

club legend.

most AFL games played for an indigenous player too.

 

[DannyTheDoorman]

club legend.

most AFL games played for an indigenous player too.

Most games at Freo for an Indigenous player? Hasnt Shane Burgoyne played just over 300 in the AFL?

 

[yakka man]

Was a very good player for us and enjoyed watching him.

 

[Nothing]

Most games at Freo for an Indigenous player? Hasnt Shane Burgoyne played just over 300 in the AFL?

Goodes.

 

[Beetlebum]

Andrew McLeod played 300+ as well.

Great servant, a true champ of the club. He's made some boneheaded decisions along the journey but Johnno will always be one of my favourite Dockers.

 

[Proud SJW]

Goodes.

What, so that's a thing these days? Our indigenous player played more games than yours?
**** the lot of you, and thank you, Johnno.

Just to make a point.
/chuckle.

 

[Nothing]

What, so that's a thing these days? Our indigenous player played more games than yours?
**** the lot of you, and thank you, Johnno.

Just to make a point.
/chuckle.

He's not even the indigenous player with the most AFL games retiring from Freo this weekend. Maybe most games played by a WA based AFL player, even then I'm not sure.

All of this minutiae is detracting from Well done to MJ.

 

[Schauermann]

Well done. Pretty good career in the end. Had a few highs and lows, but his best was very good.

 

[ImperialPurple]

Loved him, and am truly saddened that his end was announced by Lyon some weeks ago, and he wasn't given the utmost respect by the club to call it publicly himself.

Love and respect to a true champion of our club. Go well MJ.

 

[Joeltownsmith]

Love ya Johnny all the best. Great career mate.

 

[Freo Shark]

Loved him, and am truly saddened that his end was announced by Lyon some weeks ago, and he wasn't given the utmost respect by the club to call it publicly himself.

Love and respect to a true champion of our club. Go well MJ.

Thats just really poor respect from Ross!! karma thing.

 

[Freo Shark]

Cheers Johnno! Loved yer skills and not so much yer pointing sometimes. But you had the ability to sublimely effortlessly time travel! Thanks for the memories.

 

[Purple Jesus]

All the best Johnno. Loved your work at your best. You may have mad a few mistakes but who doesn't.

Go well good sir.

 

[Deathly]

Thanks Johnno.

Hope he stays with the club in some capacity. He does work for the AFLW side right? The guy has been big with our defenses' development.

 

[SHill Shall]

Jonno was good enough tonight to suggest he could have gone around another year!

Still - going out on top will feel good.

 

[Admiral Byng]

Most games at Freo for an Indigenous player? Hasnt Shane Burgoyne played just over 300 in the AFL?

Yeah, sorry, Probably that's what it was. I heard a snippet on the radio news in the car and I was quite surprised by it. But sounds more likely if it was just a Freo club record.

 

[Crippa]

All his sublime skills on show at the last. One of our very best in the push for a premiership and just gut wrenching to say goodbye.

Hope you stick around to teach our young lads.

You've done us proud, great man.

 

[go_the_dockers]

Here’s my Johno story:

A couple of years back I took my young Freo mad nephew to an open training session and he was desperate to meet Sandi and get his autograph. After waiting ages Sandi walked straight past him and didn’t seems to notice him at all.

The kid was devastated, but Johno was close by, saw this wandered over and spent a good few minutes talking to him, signing his jumper and doing some handballs etc. Johno then wandered over and spoke to Sandi, pointing out what had happened and Sandi came over and apologised and did the righty.

The kid still talks about this and to this day grateful to Johno. Champion bloke and great servant of the club.

I love stories like this.

 

[Deathly]

 

[AAACockburn]

Thats just really poor respect from Ross!! karma thing.

Not the first time Ross has announced players retirement publicly before they even knew about it.

 

[its free real estate]

Can't find it anywhere but the moment I knew he was going to be special was that great Derby in 2006 (Hase game winner) when as a scrawny bloke, more hair than man, he won a pivotal contest against 2 Eagles on the wing that from memory led to a goal.

I'll miss him and his sidestep greatly.

EDIT: Going through Google and I can find hardly any photos of him with those long curls of his youth. Did find this one which was good though. Their debut season:

I remember that contest vividly as well.

He came second in the B&F that year. Was up and down for a few years after, but an essential player for us to make finals in every year since.

He’ll be missed, for a long time.