Roast Steve Johnson

[Byron2008]

We did get smashed in the middle, as Thompson indicated, which obviously explained our limited opportunities. I think Hawkins was atrocious yesterday, and Pods let us down with his kicking.

My initial post, is aimed at Johnson in general and specifically his decision making.

But you disagree, I guess you think Johnson is playing just fine... He doesn't continually make those stupid decisions, and I must be making all this up then..ok mate

 

[SJ]

We did get smashed in the middle, as Thompson indicated, which obviously explained our limited opportunities. I think Hawkins was atrocious yesterday, and Pods let us down with his kicking.

My initial post, is aimed at Johnson in general and specifically his decision making.

But you disagree, I guess you think Johnson is playing just fine... He doesn't continually make those stupid decisions, and I must be making all this up then..ok mate

I do not think he is at his career best, however I am saying he is not playing that much differently to other games when the rest of this board praises him for being a superstar.

As a forward your output relies a lot on supply. When the supply is poor and you aren't being assisted, you have to take further risks. When these don't come off, it looks bad - however is it really your fault?

 

[Byron2008]

I would've thought that as a forward, especially in times when the delivery isn't great, I would've thought, going back and taking steadying set shot is the smartest option, either that or centering it quickly. Not waiting around for the defenders to get back and turning it over.

SJ does this when we're winning or losing. He makes the same errors, people just forget about them when we're playing well and winning as a team. I think that quite a few of our fellow fans get lost in those magic snaps and soccer goals, and don't see the full picture.

 

[SJ]

I would've thought that as a forward, especially in times when the delivery isn't great, I would've thought, going back and taking steadying set shot is the smartest option, either that or centering it quickly. Not waiting around for the defenders to get back and turning it over.

SJ does this when we're winning or losing. He makes the same errors, people just forget about them when we're playing well and winning as a team. I think that quite a few of our fellow fans get lost in those magic snaps and soccer goals, and don't see the full picture.

When did he not do this yesterday?

 

[witsend]

It's quite simple really. Stop falling down. When he's upright in a 50-50 there aren't many better, but he has been going to ground at least 75% of the time this year in those one on ones, poor delivery or no poor delivery.
The double whammy for us when he falls, dives, slips is that not only do we lose possession, but they have a medium size defender running free with the ball, putting transferred pressure on down the ground, ultimately with our defence.
Either he's lazy or injured. If he's lazy, drop him for a while to show him that he isn't guaranteed a spot, or rest him until he can compete at AFL level on a consistent basis.
I'm a huuuge fan of SJ and know he is expected to do the unexpected, but what he has served up this year is beneath him. I think I/we were all seduced by his 6 goals last week, when we were on fire.

 

[SJ]

It's quite simple really. Stop falling down. When he's upright in a 50-50 there aren't many better, but he has been going to ground at least 75% of the time this year in those one on ones, poor delivery or no poor delivery.
The double whammy for us when he falls, dives, slips is that not only do we lose possession, but they have a medium size defender running free with the ball, putting transferred pressure on down the ground, ultimately with our defence.
Either he's lazy or injured. If he's lazy, drop him for a while to show him that he isn't guaranteed a spot, or rest him until he can compete at AFL level on a consistent basis.
I'm a huuuge fan of SJ and know he is expected to do the unexpected, but what he has served up this year is beneath him. I think I/we were all seduced by his 6 goals last week, when we were on fire.

witsend, best post in the thread. This is the one thing he is doing poorly, and it does not help (and is accentuated when opportunities are limited).

I go back to a post of mine a couple of weeks back:

Johnson isn't playing that badly in my opinion, but I admit he is too often either being a little soft under contact or is playing for frees.

I have heard and read Gary Ablett Senior a number of times state the most important thing he learnt was competing your feet, this keeps you in the contest and when you are in the contest you can still win the ball. This is one of Gary Junior's greatest assets, he keeps his feet in every contest and that makes him that much more damaging.

Johnson was similar until recently, in my mind I can replay many goals where he kept his feet in a contested ball situation which led to a goal.

He isn't playing badly. Just has to do a few of the simple things more often and he will be back to his best.

I stand by all the above, even after yesterday.

 

[Poetic Justice]

Great goal in the first quarter. Very Stevie J-esque

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I do not think he is at his career best, however I am saying he is not playing that much differently to other games when the rest of this board praises him for being a superstar.

As a forward your output relies a lot on supply. When the supply is poor and you aren't being assisted, you have to take further risks. When these don't come off, it looks bad - however is it really your fault?

I would agree with you, which is why I think we have to give the forwards a bit of a break because it's not their fault the mids can't get their hands on it nor make the correct decisions and execution (witness the number of blind kicks into the forward line, or over guys heads, or at Pods feet).

And SJ was far from our worst. That said, when we lose, and I see SJ spending half the game going to ground, as if somehow that's his mission, you can understand why I don't want to cut him some slack on an admittedly frustrated Tuesday. That's why I said I don't know whether he's injured again, or there's some reason he keeps doing it, but it's frustrating.

 

[cynical]

there were at least 2 examples in 1 on 1 contests with Russell where Johnson was clearly beaten, it was pitiful

You should not be bumped off the ball against someone the same size as you.

He was clearly one of the worst players for us.

12 possessions 1 mark 0 tackles for a guy playing as a midsized half forward.

his man Jordan Russell had 21pos 10 marks 5 tackles

 

[CATACK]

Give him a break in the two's this week and give him a 9.4 for the dive in the last quarter.

SJ you have 2 feet, stay on them you are alot better then that.

 

[witsend]

there were at least 2 examples in 1 on 1 contests with Russell where Johnson was clearly beaten, it was pitiful

You should not be bumped off the ball against someone the same size as you.

He was clearly one of the worst players for us.

12 possessions 1 mark 0 tackles for a guy playing as a midsized half forward.

his man Jordan Russell had 21pos 10 marks 5 tackles

There was one instance in the 2nd half where SJ was just bumped into next Thursday in the marking contest one on one. It was disgraceful.
When he watches the tapes of it I hope he hangs his head in shame and vows never to let it happen again.
Actually, watching the tapes of the game with the boys would be very, very interesting this week...

 

[showdownhero]

Firstly, this post is not biased as I believe it stands for most of the forward line yesterday.

I think if Johnson was sitting in Carlton's forwardline he would have kicked six or more.

Their delivery was quick, direct and accurate. They honoured leads and it made the job of the forwards easy.

Meanwhile Geelong was awful in the centre. At half time the entries inside 50 read 29 to 19 in favour of Carlton. Geelong had 12 shots from those 19 entries (not entirely accurate, but a pretty good return rate of shots).

Johnson may not have been at his absolute best yesterday, nor Mooney or Hawkins, however this was not where the game was lost. There is only so much these blokes can do when the ball is coming in irregularly and at their feet or way over their heads on the lead, so that they have to wait underneath it and are spoiled from behind.

Then when Johnson does get a half chance in the pocket up against the boundary line and tries to do something, while the captain doesn't shepherd or give an option, you bag him.

Ridiculous.

As a neutral supporter at the G on Monday I couldn't agree more with this. Even though you guys probably would have won had you kicked straight, you could've got beaten by more if O'hailpin and Henderson hadn't spent the whole game stinkin up the joint.

 

[Brasil2007]

Stevie was terrific today. He obviously worked on everything highlighted in the thread. I only saw him fall over once (I think he genuinely did trip over his own feet that time), he used his body well, and his chasing in particular was terrific - at one time I saw him run from the forward pocket to the back pocket at top speed in pursuit. I can't ever remember seeing him run so fast for so far.

He worked to bring others into the game too.

Well done.

 

[hbk_aus]

Much better game, all be it against ordinary opposition. Just the one incidence that the Fox Footy guys highlighted in the first quarter where he could get done for staging. I kinda hope he does because i cant stand that part of his game.

 

[witsend]

While pleased with SJ today, I'm gonna reserve judgement until he wins a game for us against a good team.

 

[Vegas.]

While pleased with SJ today, I'm gonna reserve judgement until he wins a game for us against a good team.

Right and wrong.

Fair to reserve judgment until he performs against a half decent side, but he doesn't have to 'win a game for us', nor does he have to go out and try to do that. In fact it would be fair to say that when he tries to hard to do that, it is often his undoing. He just needs to fit into the flow of the forward line and take the many opportunities that will be presented to him. His natural flair and uncanny ability to hit the chest of a leading player will take care of the rest.

 

[Brasil2007]

Right and wrong.

Fair to reserve judgment until he performs against a half decent side, but he doesn't have to 'win a game for us', nor does he have to go out and try to do that. In fact it would be fair to say that when he tries to hard to do that, it is often his undoing. He just needs to fit into the flow of the forward line and take the many opportunities that will be presented to him. His natural flair and uncanny ability to hit the chest of a leading player will take care of the rest.

I agree with this. It wasn't the fact that he kicked a bag and took a couple of good marks. It was that he worked hard to play his role in the forward line. He held his feet. He chased hard. He worked to make opportunities. That's what our success has been built around.

 

[noclashjumpers]

Right and wrong.

Fair to reserve judgment until he performs against a half decent side, but he doesn't have to 'win a game for us', nor does he have to go out and try to do that. In fact it would be fair to say that when he tries to hard to do that, it is often his undoing. He just needs to fit into the flow of the forward line and take the many opportunities that will be presented to him. His natural flair and uncanny ability to hit the chest of a leading player will take care of the rest.

Perfect.

 

[Rellik666]

Thought there was some excellent team play from SJ yesterday, well done for bringing Hawkins into the game and reward him for his hard work.

Much better game from him.

 

[witsend]

Certainly pleased to see him keeping his feet...most of the time. It's gonna be hard for him to stop the natural urge to hurl himself forward when feeling contact from behind.
He played his best footy for us early 2009 when he was floating between HF and MF. We'll probably know he's back to full fitness if and when he starts showing up in the middle occasionally.

 

[Partridge]

I agree with this. It wasn't the fact that he kicked a bag and took a couple of good marks. It was that he worked hard to play his role in the forward line. He held his feet. He chased hard. He worked to make opportunities. That's what our success has been built around.

Perfectly summed up. That what impressed me about the team as a whole yesterday; was the focus on chasing, harrassing, winning the ball back. It was tremendous. Irrespective of the opposition, you do the hard work like we did yesterday and the results will come.

Can't think of one player that didn't do his job when required - especially the forward line. They were all very good.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Perfectly summed up. That what impressed me about the team as a whole yesterday; was the focus on chasing, harrassing, winning the ball back. It was tremendous. Irrespective of the opposition, you do the hard work like we did yesterday and the results will come.

Can't think of one player that didn't do his job when required - especially the forward line. They were all very good.

Agreed...for all the 27 goals, defensive pressure was the standout improvement from last week, and we had a even contribution from everybody.

 

[meto]

I think Steve loves the 3 talls set up, this gives him that little extra freedom he didn't get with the 2 talls only.
Lets him off the leash so he can capitalize on the errors defences make trying to nullify the tall fwds.
I wasn't surprised he kicked 5 goals, saturday, cause this allows him space and more opportunity.

 

[Turbocat]

As long as SJ keeps mobile , he is capable of matching up well on medium defenders. If he starts with slow mo Steve again we will be not be able to play him with that many talls. Lets hope he stays fit

 

[Swans120]

I'm very worried about him this Sunday with our dominant "take all comers" defender Craig Bolton out. He would have gone straight to him and it would have been a great contest. But with Craig now out, we are gonna need one of Mattner, Richards or Smith needs to do a job. Johnson could well have a field day. I dont think any of the Cats forwards aside from Johnson will have a huge game (like 5 or more goals) as we have the KPD to cover them well enough but Johnson could well rip us up.