Stevie J points way for Giants
“I think he developed a lot of his teammates’ footy skills and footy brains individually, but, as a collective, he definitely had a big impact on our footy club in his time here.”
THERE are countless people who have helped shape the identity of the Greater Western Sydney and taken it from a fledgling club in an under-18s competition to an AFL powerhouse.
Names such as Kevin Sheedy, David Matthews, Tony Shepherd, Leon Cameron, Luke Power and Alan McConnell will forever hold a place in the annals of Giants folklore for the work they did in establishing and then consolidating the club’s ideology.
But it is the effect of one man alone that could determine the path taken in the years ahead.
Steve Johnson, who played 40 games in his two-year stint at Spotless Stadium, was instrumental in developing his younger teammates and transforming them on and off the field.
As midfield dynamo Lachie Whitfield puts it, Johnson was responsible for fast-tracking their thinking from that of youthful talent to AFL professionals.
“He was awesome, and Stevie sort of brought the personality of the AFL to Greater Western Sydney,” Whitfield said.
“We have a lot of young kids who have been drafted and haven’t lived the life of a superstar that lived in Melbourne. He brought that personality up and taught us a lot of the tricks of the trade that he has in his kit bag.
“I think he developed a lot of his teammates’ footy skills and footy brains individually, but, as a collective, he definitely had a big impact on our footy club in his time here.”
Whitfield has emerged stronger from a tumultuous off-field period when, at the end of the 2016 season, he was banned for trying to evade a drug test.
There was able support from family, friends and the club, as well as teammates, including Johnson, who had dealt with his own off-field issues,” he said.
“We sat down for a couple of in-depth chats to talk about ways to deal with some things and how to come out the other side a better player and a better person.
“He was really good for me and helped me with a couple of big decisions.”
Whitfield had a quiet finals series last year but his form in 2018 has somewhat mirrored that of his team.
He does not see himself as a barometer, but the numbers make that suggestion hard to dispute.
The 23-year-old had 34 disposals in the 82-point win over the Bulldogs in the season opener, backed it up with 26 possessions and a goal in the Round 2 win against Collingwood, and dropped to 15 touches in the Giants’ only loss, Sydney.
He has bounced back with three solid games in which he has notched 78 disposals, eight tackles, 11 inside-50s, seven rebound-50s and a goal, but for Whitfield, after 15 straight losses to start life in the AFL, it is team success he craves more than individual plaudits.
“I probably haven’t looked at it all that closely in terms of being a barometer but I’m just enjoying my footy a lot more and playing in different positions,” he said.
“It’s been a good start to the year, personally, and I want to give my best to the team and help in any way I can, but I just hope that I can perform in the big games. We’ve got a pretty month coming up and if that helps the team get over the line that is great.
“The first two, 2½ years (of my career) I didn’t win many games and footy wasn’t enjoyable at all. I guess it makes the success, or winning percentage, a whole lot better now and more enjoyable that we are doing it all together after going through the hard times together.
“There are still some bridges to climb . . . but if we can get some consistent footy in through the middle and back end of the year, I’m sure we can have a real go at it.”
Whitfield knows that defeating Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, the ground Johnson made a name for himself over an illustrated career in the blue and white hoops, would go a long way to setting up the GWS tilt for a maiden flag.
He will not be playing tonight, but his words and the lessons Johnson taught the youthful Giants may yet play an even bigger role than his on-field deeds in taking them to the promised land.