Toast Michael Johnson

[muckypup]

He had a very good game. Credit where credit is due. Over the past few seasons I have spent a lot of my footy talking time bagging him. If he plays like that every week I'll have to think about what condiments I use while I am eating my words. Consistency is the next step for him .

 

[Nickos66]

I'll toast that, he could return to Doig favouritism, or at least top 5. ala 2006.

 

[malpaso]

Yep, excellent game doing what he does best, sweeping and then delivering. Great vision on some of his kicks during the game.

Lyon obviously knows where his best position is, he's always played well in that role.

 

[E Shed]

Good to see people giving credit where it's due. Johnson has always had excellent vision, decision making and disposal skills. He's also (and this goes mostly unnoticed) extremely clean below his knees when the ball is on the ground. Very tidy in tight spaces and good at the deft knock or toe poke to advantage. Generally just plays a smart game.

What has been the knock of course is his intensity and constancy. I'm not one who subscribes to the idea he's lazy, I put it down to confidence. It's this ability to get the maximum out of the middle tier players that Ross is supposed to be good at and so far the signs are good. I notice in his presser he made a point of the good footy played by "unnamed" players under the pump from last year to produce. No doubt MJ is in this group and has had plenty of attention paid to him in the pre-season to get him producing because it's players like him giving an extra 20 to 30% that's going to get us over the line in the close ones.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

Second best possesion getter, cool under pressure, good DE% and got it down the other end of the ground a fair few times

Just wish he didn't stab some his kicks

 

[Clay Davis]

He played the perfect game for a half back flank.

 

[Freo Blood]

Also went harder at marking contests than I remember from recent history. If he can continue playing with that intenstity will be a very very valuable and versatile player.

Duffman also gets a tick from me for a hard ball get v J Selwood in the second qtr I think. A couple of lightweight tackle attempts later in the game but also a harder performance from him.

 

[kuepper]

He had a very good game. Credit where credit is due. Over the past few seasons I have spent a lot of my footy talking time bagging him. If he plays like that every week I'll have to think about what condiments I use while I am eating my words. Consistency is the next step for him .

Very good point.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

yep, i've been one of his most vocal critics, and whilst he was excellent on the weekend, it will take weeks of consistent effort for him to win me over... but he made a start on saturday night

 

[yakamoto]

Yeah! Solid game from MJ. Good to see him carry on from where he left off last season.

 

[Tweedy]

Great start to the season. As he says in the puff article on the AFL site - 1 down, 21+ to go.

 

[Outshined]

Brilliant game, but...

Just about every season these threads seem to appear lauding an inconsistent player as having turned the corner or finally started heading towards his full potential, and just about every season we've been burnt. Johnson, Ibbo, Mayne etc were all good to outstanding on the weekend and totally deserving of praise, but I'll reserve my complete judgement on them and the team as a whole until we start doing it consistently, at home and away.

Maybe Lyon will be the one to help us turn that corner though!

 

[believe_it]

Yep, excellent game doing what he does best, sweeping and then delivering. Great vision on some of his kicks during the game.

Lyon obviously knows where his best position is, he's always played well in that role.

Totally . The way he was getting the ball and dispersing it was how he was like when he first was playing. He was never a forward it was so obvious.

 

[apuchar]

Have always considered him to be a consistent performer. just soft one on one in the marking contest. Think he lost a bit of passion for footy when he lost his father. Remember we never saw Dion Woods again after he lost his father.

 

[Moo]

Repeat x 5 and then I'll praise.

 

[dugrene]

If Saturday's game is an indicator of his year ahead then we hopefully will see MJ finally deliver his potential.

He got hammered last year here. Some of what was said bordered on hysteria a lot he deserved.

He's my buddy.

Good luck MJ.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Repeat x 5 and then I'll praise.

[YOUTUBE]au5qf4ERJ1I[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Scootyb]

Some of his marks with the flight were really courageous too, not something i previously associated with Johno thats for sure

 

[Nickos66]

I think I even saw him outmuscle somebody for a mark or a spoil too! Times, they are a changin'.

 

[estibador]

*Bump*

I thought tonight was MJ's best game in many, many years.

He actually looked like a proper accountable backman down there when the ball was in the air, without sacrificing any of his mopping up and rebound work.

 

[E Shed]

agree Esti. He was tops.

 

[muckypup]

I toasted post Geelong and have him in my DT. Surprised his numbers weren't higher tonight. He was all over the ground doing above average stuff. Hope he has a great year.

 

[jedi mind tricks]

2006 look out...

Mcphee was a jet too...

 

[Nickos66]

Haven't checked the stats yet, but I did a foolish and short-sighted thing today and punted on him in my dream team. He's had a consistent year and looks to be relishing the new leadership and directions being given to him. Don't want to speak too soon but he Looks to be a good unique.

 

[Bengraham]

Anyone else notice he actually had some fire in his eyes tonight.

Excellent in that mop up role.

Still shutter every time he goes to kick it, horrible ball drop, but he read the play well.