Thats the issue ......AFL is not a trial team
you advocating he play....yet you have not seen him play or train
What did Vader say ......newtoyitous .....that' all it is
Will tell you how it goes ......he'll get a game ...half of this board will tear him apart, the other half will make excuses
Guy has all the talent ...enough to dominate SANFL .....but not the intensity/drive to beat the best AFL defenders
I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in whether people here tear him apart or make excuses. None whatsoever. And I would be aghast if the club was making decisions on whether or not to play a young forward based upon how it might be received by an internet forum.
He's on our list. We either need to use him at some point, or get rid of him - and quite possibly both. That decision will be far easier to make intelligently if we actually give him some games. It would also be of great benefit to Johnston himself.
I agree that the AFL is not a trial team, however Johnston has consistently played at a high level in the SANFL. He's earned his AFL debut in the past. We're currently short of players in form, and short of performing tall forwards. This would not be a "trial" game. It would be rewarding a fringe player for strong form when lack of form in others opens up a spot. This happens at every single football club.
Don't give me this "newtoyitis" crap, as though I'm on here very week calling for every young player to be played at the expense of senior players. If anything, the opposite has been true. I just think that, in this case, Johnston has done enough this year to earn some AFL gametime and I'd like to see him get it.