Toast Michael Johnson

[Okinakashi]

So much this. So, so much this. Pretty pissed off at how this has come about tbh. Didn't Ross do this to someone last year too?

Better than it being announced by the coach on-field after the last game of the year - Adam Simpson, I'm looking at you.

 

[wayToGo_]

I like to announce all my firings at the end of our Friday afternoon team meetings. Avoids unnecessary prior notice with "it's not you, it's us" warm and fuzzy conversations, no awkwardness walking past them for the following days, and hit the weekend relaxed and relieved having got 'that' off your shoulders. Nothing worse than visions of them curled up in foetal position crying about losing their job when you're busy working on company wide memos about using TPS report cover sheets mid week.

A Wednesday announcement is amateur hour Ross.

 

[Taylor]

So he finds out now, via press conference, why he hasn't been playing? Yeah, right..

 

[ImperialPurple]

It's not like it wouldn't be dead obvious to everyone in the AFL, but MJ deserves the respect to be able to call it himself to the media. Even if Ross were there with a sharp knife in his back, the words should have come from Johnno's mouth, not RTB's. IMHO.

 

[Taylor]

I don't see the point taking offense for him, he is a proud and grown man, he can stand up for himself in the environment he chooses if he wants to.

 

[One_Wing]

Maybe neither of them wanted to front the media.

 

[yakamoto]

It’s more a case of being saddened rather than offended. As a club we have a history of getting it wrong in these moments. eg the departures of Drum, Harvey and possibly Sumich.

 

[Deathly]

Everything gets blown out of proportion by you mob these days.

 

[yakamoto]

We wouldn’t get things out of proportion if it wasn’t amateur hour at the club every other day.
Today I received an email from Freo which contained a running sheet for match day. Gates open, Freo enter stadium, est time of final siren, etc. All important information I’m sure. What they neglected to include was departure times for the first trains out of the stadium.

 

[G Mus]

We wouldn’t get things out of proportion if it wasn’t amateur hour at the club every other day.
Today I received an email from Freo which contained a running sheet for match day. Gates open, Freo enter stadium, est time of final siren, etc. All important information I’m sure. What they neglected to include was departure times for the first trains out of the stadium.

Trains are monitored by cameras and foot traffic by transperth

 

[One_Wing]

We wouldn’t get things out of proportion if it wasn’t amateur hour at the club every other day.
Today I received an email from Freo which contained a running sheet for match day. Gates open, Freo enter stadium, est time of final siren, etc. All important information I’m sure. What they neglected to include was departure times for the first trains out of the stadium.

It also didn't contain instructions on how to wipe your ass and feed and dress yourself.

How will we go on?!

 

[yakamoto]

people.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Was a great player but probably went 2 years too long and it kind of sullied his career a bit.

 

[ImperialPurple]

I don't see the point taking offense for him, he is a proud and grown man, he can stand up for himself in the environment he chooses if he wants to.

It’s more a case of being saddened rather than offended.

This.

Don't know the guy personally, but he was a Freo supporter as a kid, played almost 250 games for the club he loved, and during the middle years of his career was often fronting the media for press conferences, so it's not as if he's too shy to do it. Either just delist him at the end of the year, allow him to make a comment like most clubs do with their retiring greats, or, if he doesn't want to front the media, put out a proper press release announcing his retirement. I'm not offended, just a bit disappointed with how things have been handled for a champion of our club.

 

[Deathly]

Was a great player but probably went 2 years too long and it kind of sullied his career a bit.

I think he went the right length in his career. These last 2 years he's been both hot and cold playing wise but his leadership and knowledge passing through the next generation in those years will end up being valuable later on if it isn't obvious right now.

 

[stax on the mull]

A couple of weeks ago listening to one of the Peel Thunder games on radio one of the commentators (I think it might have been Mitsopoulos with the old Perth Demons connection) was relaying a conversation he'd had with Johnno about the rest of the 2018 season. He said MJ had told him that he was ready to play for Fremantle if he got the call up, but also that he didn't think that he would be selected again.

 

[freo_leo29]

Ross didn't announce their retirement he simply said that its pretty obvious that they won't be at Freo next year

Nothing has been announced yet except the bleeding obvious, MJ will come out and retire when he feels ready/makes sure other clubs don't inquire

 

[ydraw]

As we’re in the business of giving games to players who can barely do up their bootlaces it shouldn’t be too much of a stretch to include both MJ and DP for the Port game it being NAIDOC Week.

You're seriously suggesting we should select the team based on race? Mind boggling really.

 

[beetz]

Johnson has know for weeks his time is up. He’s not bitter at all.

 

[Deathly]

The General would of had a chat about his playing future at the end of 2015, definitely would of had one at the end of 2016, would of had one similar to Pearce at the end of last year and probably has been having back & forth talks with Ross again throughout this year. The guy is not an idiot and has not been treated like one. I think he'd be totally okay if Ross actually announced his retirement too.

 

[more_of_bito]

Glad I got to see his last game... before the Pies in rnd 23.

I do remember thinking gees he looks stressed, felt the we’re trying to isolate him in the back half with his lack of pace. Mind willing, body not. Champion player looking forward to the Pies game to see him just enjoy the moment, similar to Pavs last game and the freedom it gave players not under pressure.

 

[Ysaye]

Johnson has know for weeks his time is up. He’s not bitter at all.

Actually for a year - in an interview last year he said he was suprised he was still wanted in 2018.

 

[BlueE]

As we’re in the business of giving games to players who can barely do up their bootlaces it shouldn’t be too much of a stretch to include both MJ and DP for the Port game it being NAIDOC Week. Too much to hope for I guess when you consider they were dropped for the Indigenous round.
In most clubs players who have been long term servants have been granted the privilege of announcing their own retirements from the game. Would have been nice to hear it from MJ and DP in person.

This is spot on. MJ, DP, Harley (and Duman) deserve a game because they've been the best at WAFL level. For this being NAIDOC week as well as possible retirements it would show those players and fans some respect as well!

I don't know why we didn't wear out Indigenous jumper last week in Darwin at the start of NAIDOC, as Melbourne did, so I'm hoping they'll bring out a new home Indigenous jumper on Sunday.

 

[Docker82]

Ross didn't announce their retirement he simply said that its pretty obvious that they won't be at Freo next year

Nothing has been announced yet except the bleeding obvious, MJ will come out and retire when he feels ready/makes sure other clubs don't inquire

If Ross says they might be at Freo next year there’s collective groans from and media beat up about not playing the kids etc.

If he says what he said he’s a dick for ‘retiring’ them.

As soon as the reporter asks the question the answer is doomed from then on. He just cannot win.

 

[yakamoto]

Come on ‘82! How long has Ross been doing press conferences? Even I could deflect or give an appropriate non answer to a question regarding the future of players on the list.