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Johnson commits to Freo

Fremantle defender Michael Johnson has committed to the club by signing a two-year contract extension

4:30pm  Apr 22, 2013

Catch him if you can

Defender Michael Johnson liked what he saw up the field on Saturday, including a run and carry show from one of his favourites.

3:39pm  Mar 25, 2013

Freo backs ready says Johnno

150 gamer Michael Johnson says Freo's defence is up to the challenge against West Coast's forwards

7:58pm  Mar 21, 2013

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Senior Players List

37

Michael
Johnson

Height
195 cm
DOB
20-10-1984
Weight
88 kg
Debut
2005
Games
2013
8
Career
157
Goals
2013
1
Career
55
2013 Dream Team Points
Total
561
Avg
70
MichaelJohnson

Player Bio

At a Glance

Junior Clubs:
Clubs: Fremantle
Draft information: Pre-Season Draft 2003, pick 8
Debut: Round 4 2005 v Richmond
Recruited from: Perth
Brownlow Votes: 7

Had a tremendous 2012 season – his best in the AFL. Johnson will again play on the half-back line, often as a loose man. He also chalked up his 150th Freo game in the round 1 win over West Coast,

Season by Season

Season by Season

Johnson relished the opportunity to return to a permanent role on the half-back line in 2012 and was the club’s best rebound 50 player. Along with Luke McPharlin, he helped form the foundations of a Fremantle defence that ranked second in the AFL for fewest points conceded (behind Sydney).

He thrived as a loose man in the backline, winning the second-most marks in the competition in 2012 with 166 grabs. Only McPharlin finished ahead of him with 171. The majority of Johnson’s marks were uncontested, a category he led the entire AFL in with 149. He used the ball well, ranking 10th in the AFL for effective kicks (244). Most of these were short kicks, as he finished third overall in the competition for this statistic with 170.

Still well in his prime, Johnson has laid the foundations to go on with it in 2013 and will be a vital cog in Freo’s uncompromising backline again. 

Charity partner ambassador: Diabetes WA

Johnson played every game of the season for the first time since 2006 and looked comfortable in a variety of roles. While he didn’t set the world on fire, he was serviceable throughout as a key defender or forward, and a backup ruckman. Johnson finished second overall at Freo for short kicks (98), third for total marks (98) and uncontested marks (79), fourth for contested marks (19) and fifth for hitouts (16). Played a blinder in round 24 with 30 disposals and 11 marks and Freo will be hoping for more of that in 2012.

Johnson was Freo’s Mr fix-it in 2010, playing a variety of roles that included backing up Aaron Sandilands in the ruck and key defensive and forward jobs. The only low point of his year was a club-imposed six-week suspension in the middle of the season.

Stats

By the numbers

  • 2013   Season Average
    Games Played 8
    • Kicks 11.7
    • Handballs 4.4
    • Disposals 16.1
    • Marks 6.0
    • Hit-Outs 0.1
    • Tackles 2.1
    • Goals 0.1
    • Dream Team 70.1

2013 Highlights

Statistics Best Opponent Round
Kicks 17 Sydney Swans Rd 8
Handballs 8 Sydney Swans Rd 8
Disposals 25 Sydney Swans Rd 8
Marks 10 Richmond Rd 5
Hit-outs 1 Hawthorn Rd 4
Tackles 4 Richmond Rd 5
Goals 1 Sydney Swans Rd 8
Dream Team 98 Sydney Swans Rd 8

2013 Season Breakdown

Rd Opponent Result K H D M HO FF FA T G B DT
1 West Coast Eagles W 108 - 80 7 3 10 5 0 0 1 2 0 0 47
2 Western Bulldogs W 78 - 106 12 4 16 7 0 1 3 2 0 0 65
3 Essendon L 68 - 72 16 2 18 7 0 3 0 2 0 0 84
4 Hawthorn L 118 - 76 6 4 10 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 36
5 Richmond W 81 - 80 14 4 18 10 0 2 0 4 0 0 98
6 Gold Coast Suns W 54 - 99 10 7 17 6 0 1 0 1 0 0 67
7 Collingwood W 100 - 73 12 3 15 5 0 0 1 3 0 0 66
8 Sydney Swans D 70 - 70 17 8 25 7 0 0 0 1 1 0 98
9 Melbourne - - - - - - - - - - -
10 Adelaide Crows - - - - - - - - - - -
12 Brisbane Lions - - - - - - - - - - -
13 North Melbourne - - - - - - - - - - -
14 Geelong Cats - - - - - - - - - - -
15 St Kilda - - - - - - - - - - -
16 West Coast Eagles - - - - - - - - - - -
17 Richmond - - - - - - - - - - -
18 Adelaide Crows - - - - - - - - - - -
19 Carlton - - - - - - - - - - -
20 GWS Giants - - - - - - - - - - -
21 Melbourne - - - - - - - - - - -
22 Port Adelaide - - - - - - - - - - -
23 St Kilda - - - - - - - - - - -
TOTAL W: 5 - L: 2 - D: 1 94 35 129 48 1 8 6 17 1 0 561

By the numbers

  • Career Average
    Games Played 157
    • Kicks 10.4
    • Handballs 6.1
    • Disposals 16.5
    • Marks 5.6
    • Hit-Outs 0.9
    • Tackles 1.8
    • Goals 0.4
    • Dream Team 69.5

Career Highlights

Statistics Best Opponent Round
Kicks 22 Western Bulldogs Rd 24, 2011
Handballs 14 Geelong Cats Rd 15, 2008
Disposals 30 Western Bulldogs Rd 24, 2011
Marks 15 Brisbane Lions Rd 11, 2008
Hit-outs 10 Hawthorn Rd 23, 2010
Tackles 7 Melbourne Rd 16, 2008
Goals 3 Melbourne Rd 13, 2011
Dream Team 141 Brisbane Lions Rd 11, 2008

Career Breakdown

Season Club K H D M HO FF FA T G B DT
2013 Fremantle 94 35 129 48 1 8 6 17 1 0 561
2012 Fremantle 316 150 466 166 4 21 14 52 3 1 1956
2011 Fremantle 201 118 319 98 16 10 13 52 13 10 1416
2010 Fremantle 199 120 319 117 54 20 24 33 17 8 1432
2009 Fremantle 122 47 169 52 14 9 3 18 8 7 757
2008 Fremantle 204 172 376 125 9 10 18 30 5 4 1450
2007 Fremantle 183 130 313 100 13 7 13 36 2 1 1247
2006 Fremantle 270 155 425 154 13 18 16 41 5 4 1763
2005 Fremantle 46 36 82 23 18 4 8 11 1 0 327

Legend

K
Kicks
H
Handballs
D
Disposals
M
Marks
HO
Hit-outs
FF
Frees For
FA
Frees Against
T
Tackles
G
Goals
B
Behinds
DT
Dream Team

Milestones

AFL Games

Fremantle Dockers: 149 games, 54 goals

50th Game: Rd 18 2007 v West Coast

100th Game:  Rd 21 2010 v Hawthorn

Awards

Club Awards

Best Clubman
2009

Doig Medal runner-up
2006

Q&A

As well as playing great footy, I’d like to be remembered for:
Being a great father

Most memorable victory (AFL or non-AFL):
My first AFL match

Most admired player at another club:
Chris Judd

Favourite ground to play on:
Patersons

Best part about training:
Having good friends out there with you

Weights or running:
Weights

What would you prefer – mark of the year or goal of the year:
Mark of the year

Which skill do you need to most work on:
Kicking

Complete this line…with two minutes to go in the 2012 Grand Final:
Johnson yakes a mark on the wing, gives it to Sandi in the goal square, he kicks it and Freo wins

Who will be Mike Sheahan’s No. 1 ranked player by the end of 2012:
Stephen Hill

You are running 30 minutes late to an early morning beach recovery session. What’s your excuse:
The kids kept me up last night

What is the first thing you would do if you were Andrew Demetriou for a day:
Give the players more money and what they want

Favourite meal the night before a game:
Risotto

What music helps you get ‘in the zone’ before a game:
Depends on the game and how I’m feeling

One thing you would change about the world:
Poverty

PlayStation or Xbox? And what’s your favourite game:
Playstation and NBA

Who would win My Kitchen Rules at your club? And what’s their signature dish:
Grover, anything on the barbie

Your favourite line from a movie:
Show me the money

What’s your favourite dance move:
The running man

What is your favourite holiday destination in Australia:
Down south, WA

Where would you recommend visiting within your state:
Down south ,WA