Michael Johnson

[Geoff]

Where has the Michael of old gone? I wouldn't rate him in our best 22 if injuries and suspension hadn't opened up space. The kid has gone backwards. His ball handling was always silky now it's pish. 2008 would have to be MJ worst season. I hope things come good in 2009

 

[newlander77]

Seems to be lacking confidence. When under pressure he doesn't back himself to take the first option, he freezes and well ... We've all seen the result of that.

 

[janiek]

he's never been the same since he got the 4 weeks for the bum bump

i thought at the time he was feeling humilated & unable to psych himself out of it
but this year not sure - perhaps there's family issues we don't know about

 

[Ripper]

he's never been the same since he got the 4 weeks for the bum bump

i thought at the time he was feeling humilated & unable to psych himself out of it
but this year not sure - perhaps there's family issues we don't know about

True. It must really shit him off when similar incidents are now not even cited or just draw a week at worst.
I thought he was getting his touch back a few weeks ago but it was a bit of a false dawn.

He is not Robinson Crusoe though , generally our skills have deteriorated as the year has gone on and the losses have mounted up..

 

[dockers_bengals]

he's never been the same since he got the 4 weeks for the bum bump i thought at the time he was feeling humilated & unable to psych himself out of it
but this year not sure - perhaps there's family issues we don't know about

Connolly said he was very disillusioned(if that s the right word) and was clearly effected by the decision.
IMO he has improved since he has been further down back as he seems more comfortable.He has been in diferent positions in the first half of the season including the forward line,ruck etc...

 

[SupersonicDocker]

We seem to have too many loose playing defenders normally ala hayden, mundy, johnson, mcpharlin to an extent. I think Johnson would benefit greatly being able to be the sweeper across half back and not have to worry about 3-4 other blokes. Fact is our backline is constantly under siege from the opposition, see the richmond game for a perfect example.

Johnson will be fine next year... He is a confidence player like Dessie or Grover

 

[Belnakor]

The problem with Johnson is 1v1 he will get beaten by almost every tall forward in the comp. He has great reading of the play, but his kicking isn't better than mundys and his defensive pressure isn't much better.

 

[FunkyFreo2]

he just looks worried

 

[anchor man]

I shudder every time I see him go to handball.Someone should get him to hold the ball in the correct manner when he is going to handball.You do not hold the ball at the end.By doing that,what he is doing more often than not,is hitting his hand and not the ball.Geez who is coaching them down there.The art of handballing is not rocket science.

 

[coasting]

Hasn't been the same since his Dad died. Same thing happened to Dion Woods.

 

[EastcoastDocker]

Hasn't been the same since his Dad died. Same thing happened to Dion Woods.

a lot of other similarities with dion woods i think too

very long and lanky
not great speed of the mark
great long kick but crap short kick and handball

michael johnson is a lot better tho..

dion woods use to be one of my favourite players
i thought he was gonna beef up and play CHB

 

[FreoAzz]

a lot of other similarities with dion woods i think too

very long and lanky
not great speed of the mark
great long kick but crap short kick and handball

michael johnson is a lot better tho..

dion woods use to be one of my favourite players
i thought he was gonna beef up and play CHB

Speaking of Dion Woods beefing up. I saw him at the Foundry in Cannington about 6 months after he was delisted from Fremantle and about 3 weeks after Perth gave him the flick. He was really over weight and was sporting a double chin.

Quite sad as he was one of my fav Freo players and had alot of potential. He always looked relaxed and as if he had all the time in the world when in posession.
He could have kept playing but he said he wouldn't ever leave W.A. because of his family..

 

[sabre_ac]

When he first hit the scene he was hte most exciting young player on our list, which normally mean's he is talked up more than he deserves.

Since then Ibbotson, Mayne and Palmer have come along and he is being shown to be the solid player he is...

Certainly hasn't been anywhere near our worst this eason

 

[Bateman]

I shudder every time I see him go to handball.Someone should get him to hold the ball in the correct manner when he is going to handball.You do not hold the ball at the end.By doing that,what he is doing more often than not,is hitting his hand and not the ball.Geez who is coaching them down there.The art of handballing is not rocket science.

Where's Polly Farmer when we need him?
Johnson has absolutely no power in his handball and they often drop at his teammate's feet.
Get Polly down there to coach him to use it as an attacking weapon
that opens the play up. When you think about it how many of our players do little p---weak handpasses that go 2-3 ms and put their mates under the pump.Answer: most of them

 

[anchor man]

Bateman,Why do you need Polly Farmer to teach a player at this level to handball?It is pure and simple,get him to hold the ball in the correct manner, and it will all fall in place.Of course he has no power in his handball,that is because he has no contol over the ball.He is hitting his hand more than he is the ball.He holds the ball the same way he kicks it.

 

[E Shed]

He is still the best player I've seen at patting, tapping, caressing and generally making the ball talk off the ground in a confined space. He makes it look like he is playing with a round ball. His long kicking is brilliant and he's a good mark. The rest is confidence.
He'll come good.

 

[yakamoto]

Perusal of FFC stats for 2008 gives us the following information on Michael :
Disposals - fourth with 250
Marks - second with 85
1%ers - fourth
Disposal efficiency - second
Clanger rate - second lowest amongst regular players
Hmmm! Probably enough to suggest he could be in our best 22.