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Re: Brad Johnson - 300 Great Games
Played out of his skin in his 200 (IIRC) milestone game against the Weagles that was drawn - hopefully can step it up again against the Crows.[SIZE="1"][B][CENTER][I]Although it broke our hearts it did not break our will[/I][/CENTER][/B][/SIZE]Comment
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Re: Brad Johnson - 300 Great Games
Another Johnno article, keep 'em coming....
Brad Johnson kicks on from depths
The Herald Sun
Glenn McFarlane | March 16, 2008
PLAYER-manager Ricky Nixon has revealed Bulldog captain Brad Johnson's career-best form over the past three seasons was propelled by a period of self-doubt. "I remember him coming to my office and telling me he thought he was at the crossroads," Nixon said this week as part of a tribute to Johnson ahead of his 300th game, against Adelaide at Telstra Dome next Sunday.
"We went out and sat in the grandstand at Telstra Dome for a chat. He just dropped a bit of a bombshell and said he thought he might have been finished.
"It was all doom and gloom, and he was down on himself. I think it came at a time when the club looked like it was going nowhere and Brad was struggling for form. Every player goes through that at some stage."
But Nixon said the way Johnson had responded since was testimony to the professionalism and determination of the 31-year-old Bulldog veteran.
"Brad has been outstanding in the three seasons that have followed," Nixon said. "He probably hasn't had any better seasons than the past three.
"To his credit, he organised a systemised way to assess his performances . . . that's having a person at the footy club, a person like myself and a good friend judge you -- not only with your performances on the field, but off it as well."
Johnson managed only 19 goals in 2004, but has kicked 175 goals and made All-Australian teams in the past three seasons.
Johnson said the 2004 meeting with Nixon helped him through one of the toughest seasons he had endured with the Bulldogs.
"It was probably the first time that I had had a significant drop off in performance, so I was just trying to see how I could turn it all around," he said this week.
"It wasn't anything major, I just wanted to get back to playing good footy.
"It was great to speak with someone I have always trusted and sort it all out."
Johnson paid tribute to his family this week.
"They have been extremely important to me over the years," he said.
Johnson said he was looking forward to next Sunday's game, hoping for a win after the club had a heartbreaking draw in his 200th game, against West Coast.Comment
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Re: Brad Johnson - 300 Great Games
Started last season with a pretty awesome performance in round 1 against the CatsComment
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Re: Brad Johnson - 300 Great Games
Now that we have Welsh, I'd like to see a bit of Johnno back in the midfield. He was pretty handy there IIRC.The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.Comment
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[COLOR="Red"][B][U][COLOR="Blue"]85, 92, 97, 98, 08, 09, 10... Break the curse![/COLOR][/U][/B][/COLOR]Comment
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Re: Brad Johnson - 300 Great Games
Not so sure on that.
I don't think Johnno's field kicking skills are of a good enough standard to play a midfield role in our team. We already have 3 or 4 midfielders who struggle to hit targets so adding Johnno to the mix wouldn't help this area.Comment
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Re: Brad Johnson - 300 Great Games
I agree on this one.
Johnson's a great player, a champion of our club and there's no two ways about that, but as a midfielder I don't think Johnson is as good as he used to be. Understandably too, as he's 31? & played the last few years predominately as a forward. His field kicking can be wayward in the sense that he tries to be a little 'fancy' with a few things. Under ground handpasses etc. don't work as well for him and often he ends up getting himself in a bit of a mess. The basics of the modern game are to handball to a player running past who delivers the football through the corridor. Johnson's midfield game is different, he's more of a one man band and that's not suggesting he's selfish. I just don't think Johnno always uses the right or most simple option, at times is hellbent on creating something that just isn't there. When he was younger and faster it worked, but these days players are caught out the moment they try anything too fancy.
Nevertheless he's still a great player and he does have good skills, the most important thing for Johnson is just playing simple football though. When he's not playing well it's because he's making it harder than it is, or playing for free kicks etc. No doubt he's a genuine superstar of the game though, and without him, we'd be hopeless. It's time for Cooney, Cross, Griffen, Boyd etc. to take over in the midfield.W00F!Comment
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Re: Brad Johnson - 300 Great Games
Johnno is an unbelievable HBFer although he's always been too valuable to be allowed to play there. I remember him getting 25 touches in a half v Freo.Comment
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