Brad Johnson (Australian rules footballer)
| Brad Johnson | |||
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 Brad Johnson preparing to kick for goal during the 2007 AFL Season |
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Brad Johnson | ||
| Date of birth | 18 July 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Hoppers Crossing, Victoria | ||
| Original team | Williamstown / Western Jets | ||
| Draft | 11th overall, 1993 Western Bulldogs |
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| Height/Weight | 182 cm / 87 kg | ||
| Position(s) | Full-forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Western Bulldogs | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1994–2010 | Western Bulldogs | 364 (558) | |
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1 Playing statistics to end of 2010 season .
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| Career highlights | |||
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Brad Johnson (born 18 July 1976 in Hoppers Crossing, Victoria) is a former Australian rules footballer who was the captain of Australian Football League team Western Bulldogs. Despite his small size for his position, he was considered to be one of the best forwards in the game because of his overhead marking ability, and he also had the ability to play across half forward or in the midfield.
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[edit] AFL career
[edit] Footscray/Western Bulldogs career
Recruited from Williamstown, Johnson made his debut in the 1994 season, and has been known as either a damaging forward or midfielder. Known as the "Smiling Assassin" due to the constant smile on his face, he is a popular figure around the club and has won three best and fairest awards – in 1999, 2002 and 2006.
In 2005, he kicked a Goal of the Year contender – an amazing soccer-style half volley from an extremely tight angle on the boundary line.
Johnson has been selected in the All-Australian Team in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007. In 2006 he was chosen as captain of the Bulldogs following the injury of Luke Darcy and also as captain of the All Australian Team. Johnson capped off his 2006 season finishing second in the Coleman Medal with 70 goals, an amazing feat considering that he had played the final 11 games of the season with a shoulder injury that later required surgery.[1]
He started the 2008 season against the Adelaide Crows in his 300th game and kicked five second-half goals, including three in the last seven minutes as the Bulldogs came out on top by three points.[2]
In recent seasons, Johnson has had the misfortune of missing shots on goal after the final siren to win the game. In Round 9, 2008, against North Melbourne, Johnson missed a shot at goal from 35 meters out on a 45-degree angle. A year later in the same round, Johnson had the same opportunity but this time against the Geelong Cats from 10 meters in front of goal on a tight angle in which he also missed.
On 6 September 2010, Johnson announced his retirement from AFL at the end of the 2010 season. Johnson played his final game on 18 September 2010, after the Bulldogs' second consecutive loss to St Kilda in a preliminary final.
[edit] Playing positions
Brad Johnson regularly played as a half forward flank but when he was heavily marked or out of play he was able to play as a forward pocket or midfielder.
[edit] Media and personal life
Johnson is married to Donna and they have two children, Ella and Jack.
He co-hosted children's AFL show Auskick'n Around on Fox Footy Channel with former Essendon Football Club captain Matthew Lloyd before the show was cancelled at the end of 2005.
Brad Johnson is currently the Mix 101.1 Resident Footy Expert on Friday Morning with Brigitte Duclos and Anthony Lehmann.
He has also appeared as a panellist on the Seven Network's AFL Game Day as well as on their coverage of the 2010 AFL Grand Final.
After retirement Johnson made his debut for 3AW Football and Fox Sports in season 2011.
[edit] References
- ^ Stevens, Mark (19 September 2006). "Ausse (sic) skipper needs surgery". Fox Sports. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20437859-23211,00.html. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
- ^ AFL Fixture, 2008 AFL Fixture – Round 1, droppunt.com, 23 March 2008, Retrieved on 3 January 2009
[edit] External links
- Brad Johnson (Australian rules footballer)'s profile on the Official AFL Website of the Western Bulldogs Football Club
- Brad Johnson (Australian rules footballer)'s statistics from AFL Tables
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Scott West Luke Darcy Scott West |
Western Bulldogs Best and Fairest winner 1999 2002 2006 |
Succeeded by Scott West Scott West Brian Harris |
| Preceded by Mark Ricciuto |
All-Australian Team Captain 2006 |
Succeeded by Andrew McLeod |
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