Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

[Bornadog]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

From Lachie Hunter's Press Conference:

"We'll look to protect JJ more this week and hopefully he can bounce back. He's a resilient guy."

We should have realised last week he needed help.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

From Lachie Hunter's Press Conference:



We should have realised last week he needed help.

Yes especially the team leaders should have realized this during the match.

[Axe Man]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

Melbourne Demons set to target Western Bulldog Jason Johannisen

Melbourne will look to the blueprint adopted by Sydney in a bid to physically unsettle dasher Jason Johannisen when they face the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

Johannisen, the Norm Smith medallist in last year's grand final, was held to only nine touches and 170 metres gained against the Swans in the Dogs' 46-point loss at the SCG before their mid-season break. It was arguably the Dogs' worst defeat in the Luke Beveridge era.

Johannisen was targeted before the opening bounce when roughed up by several Swans, including Dan Hannebery, and was then unable to generate his customary run from defence by a blanketing George Hewitt.

As the Demons look to continue their surge up the ladder, coach Simon Goodwin said on Wednesday he would delve into John Longmire's tactics.

"It was certainly interesting. They took away a key running player in their [Bulldogs] game. It's something that we, obviously, will look at. He is a quality player," Goodwin said.

"He gets a lot of metres gained each week. He is someone that, obviously, will be clear in our planning."

Johannisen is averaging 23.8 disposals a game and had enjoyed 29, including 22 uncontested, a week earlier in a win over St Kilda.

Goodwin, who was tagged in his heyday with the Adelaide Crows, said not all players enjoyed being hunted.

"Some players handle it extremely well. Other players take a bit of time to come to grips with it. Certainly, the tagger seems to be back in vogue, whether it's in the midfield or whether it's a half-back flanker. It's a case-by-case scenario," he said.

Such was Johannisen's performance against the Swans that Paul Roos, the former Sydney and Melbourne coach, said he was not worth $800,000 a year. Johannisen is off contract, with the Dogs unwilling to budge on more than $600,000 a season.

The Demons expect the Bulldogs to rebound with a vengeance, having, in Beveridge's view, "stagnated" leading into the bye. The Dogs have dropped four of their past six matches but the manner of their defeat to the Swans when they struggled to win the contested ball and lacked run surprised several rival teams. They were also crunched in hit-outs.

"I think their history suggests over the last two years they play a certain brand of footy consistently. That's what we will expecting this week," Goodwin said.

"Last week was probably the first time that they haven't played that way for a couple of years now. It was probably something that was a bit abnormal to them. We expect a response from them, no doubt."

[Bornadog]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

But Axe Man then we have:

Dogs launch Operation Protect JJ ahead of Dees

THE WESTERN Bulldogs will do more to protect star playmaker Jason Johannisen if he's physically targeted as he was against the Sydney Swans last week.

The Norm Smith medalist finished the game with just nine possessions and little impact after being bumped and harassed from siren to siren by Swan George Hewett and a host of teammates.

The Bulldogs face Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, and Demons coach Simon Goodwin has forecast his side could employ similar tactics to negate Johannisen's influence.

Teammate Lachie Hunter said the Dogs would be on guard to protect the 23-year-old.

"Yeah, (we could have helped him more), he obviously copped a fair bit," Hunter said on Thursday.

"We did try and help him, and to a certain extent it drags people out of position.

"It wasn't one of (Jason's) better games, and we'll look to protect him – and anyone else – who that happens to this week."

Hunter says the tactic shook up the out-of-contract West Australian, but it also proved just how much time opposition clubs are putting into curbing his impact.

"(It affected him) to a certain extent, but he's a real dangerous player – it's a feather in his cap that he's targeted by other teams," Hunter said.

"He'll learn from that … that's probably one of the first times he's got it that hard and hopefully he can bounce back.

"He is a (resilient person). His strengths are his outside run, his speed, but the physical side of the game is something he can work on as well."

While he put down the 46-point loss to the Swans to a "off night", Hunter conceded it was one of the worst performances the side had put in during Luke Beveridge's three-year tenure.

The coach took the blame for the uncharacteristic showing, but Hunter said the players were just as guilty.

"It was really disappointing going up there for a game that was pretty crucial," he said.

"We're the ones out on the field."

[Axe Man]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

Both are predictable really. Of course Melbourne are going to try and do what Sydney did and it would be incredibly disappointing if we didn't do more to help JJ out this time.

Or maybe the players have said sign your contract Jason and then we will give you a hand!

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

I look at the Roos comment on $600,000 a season as our offer. If we have offered 4 or 5 years at $600,000 and he's not happy then can leave, unfortunately. Whether it's his apparent incompetent manager, or greed, if we've offered that years/coin he should sign or tell us to look for trades over the next few months. No more negotiations, that's our *!*!*!*!ing very generous offer, accept it or take another deal elsewhere. Chris Grant can go back to his core duties.

[GVGjr]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

Melbourne tried to target Jong in the VFL final. They'll try their hardest with JJ.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

Melbourne tried to target Jong in the VFL final. They'll try their hardest with JJ.

So tape up his good shoulder?

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

I would like to see JJ either start niggling first or even start in the forward line for the first 10 to 15 mins. Bevo likes to mix things up

[westdog54]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

Melbourne tried to target Jong in the VFL final. They'll try their hardest with JJ.

We taped up Jongy's good shoulder to outfox them that day.

Do you reckon if Dale Morris got a spray tan and put on a silly wig they'd buy it?

[Hotdog60]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

Actually it would quite funny to see the whole team run out with JJ wigs on. They wouldn't know who to target.

[Ozza]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

I'm not so sure there is much merit in the position that Roos, and many on here have taken, that after JJ has a bad game he is suddenly not worth a certain dollar figure.

If you're going to talk about the worth of a player to a team - then isn't it an equally relevant measure, that we played so poor when JJ was shut out of the game?

In terms of what we are prepared to pay him - I think the club has committed (post Tom Boyd) to a philosophy around quite an even spread across the senior playing group - so I think we need to stick to that. But this whole knee-jerk and bordering on spiteful response of how is 'isn't worth that money' and 'replaceable' based on a bad game, I can't really cop.

[Twodogs]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

Send Libba sr out in #39. That would really throw them.

[Topdog]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

I'm not so sure there is much merit in the position that Roos, and many on here have taken, that after JJ has a bad game he is suddenly not worth a certain dollar figure.

Oh Ive just never believed JJ is an 800k a year player. Had nothing to do with this 1 game.

[jeemak]

Re: Johannisen’s lack of fight disappointing: Lyon

Oh Ive just never believed JJ is an 800k a year player. Had nothing to do with this 1 game.

Maybe he is, and other players who are better are now worth more.

The market dictates worth, if JJ is going to command $800K you can bet he won't be the last of his ilk to do so. Our perception of worth will have to adjust to the market signals.