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Johnson poised to return

By Mr Dandalooa

The Fremantle Football Club coaching staff are pushing suspended player Michael Johnson in a bid to have the forward primed for his return to the AFL.

In mid-May Fremantle suspended Johnson indefinitely after WA police charged him by summons with possession of cocaine, following an incident near a CBD nightclub one Saturday night.

Dockers head honcho Steve Rosich said at the time said the decision to suspend the 25-year-old was made after he was questioned by police over the matter.

Johnson was suspended for five matches, he was fined $5,000 and was stripped of his leadership duties after being caught with and admitting to possessing the cocaine.

FootyGoss understands he is eligible to resume playing in the WAFL next week, and could return to the AFL in round 14.

Dockers coach Mark Harvey is yet to decide whether Johnson will return immediately when his AFL ban expires but told a press conference he was pleased with how he was tracking along.

Harvey said the plan for him has been to work him really hard twice a day for the last three or four weeks to see how he is.

He said the premise behind the tough regime was more about him coming back a better player on the back of not playing for six weeks.

“We are happy because we are pushing him to the limit,” Harvey said.

“Whether he needs a game or two at WAFL level (before playing for us) or whether he complements the side straight away (is yet to be decided).”

Fremantle didn’t seem to miss Johnson at first, taking victories against Sydney and North Melbourne, but they lost a game against Adelaide, a match that should have been a given.

They also lost to St Kilda, but fared well.

The Dockers are in fourth spot on the table.