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The real stats on Johnson

By Mr Dandalooa

As a 16-year veteran of the game, outgoing Western Bulldogs captain Brad Johnson has statistics better than most.

This is despite former team-mate Jason Akermanis claiming otherwise.

The veteran skipper broke the Bulldogs’ games record last year but his output has hardly diminished, as evidenced by his fourth placing in the best and fairest.

Johnson had his most disposals in a season in 10 years, averaging 21.5 a game.

The club says this is a product of the captain spending more time up the field while still contributing.

He was second at the ‘Dogs for kicks, marks and goals, as he continued to defy his 34 years of age and remains one of the key players in the Bulldogs’ premiership quest.

Drafted in 1993 in the National AFL Draft, Johnson was 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.

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.

A highlight of his career came in 2005 when he kicked a Goal of the Year contender an amazing soccer-style half volley from an extremely tight angle on the boundary line.