Dog cops it on the chin

JASON Johannisen has had a “bumpy ride” this season but he’s backed himself to withstand the physical pressure that has come in spades so far this year.

The Norm Smith medallist has borne plenty of physical treatment from opposition players in recent weeks.

His coach Luke Beveridge recently said he found the treatment “concerning” and called a hit laid on the speed- ster by Eagle Mark Hutchings “cowardly”.

But Johannisen, 24, said he approached games prepared for the focus he draws.

“It’s obviously been a new challenge for me and it’s been a bit different,” he said.

“It’s been a bumpy ride. But I think that with the support from the coaches and my players, we’re starting to overcome it. I’m able to prepare for it and just have to back my strengths and keep working on my game to try and overcome it.”

He rejected the suggestion that some opposition players had crossed the line.

“We play a physical sport, so it’s nothing that we haven’t seen or done before,” he said.

“It’s just a bit of niggle and stuff like that. It’s footy, really.

“It’s not how I play my sort of game — the physical stuff that I receive, it doesn’t really faze me. I know it’s coming. I just try and focus on my job at hand and try and help the team get the win.”

Johannisen, who migrated from South Africa as a child, recently signed a five-year deal to stay at the kennel and said despite speculation he could be on the move, it had never crossed his mind.

Now the deal was done, a weight had been lifted. “A lot of people were talking about it but personally I always knew that it was going to happen,” he said. “Signing the dotted line definitely (has taken) a bit of weight off the shoulders.”

The reigning premiers are 10th on the ladder — out of the eight only by percentage — and Johannisen admitted there has been frustration with the team’s inability to recapture its blistering 2016 form.

“Not a sense of disappointment, but it’s probably a little bit frustrating at times that we can’t play the way that we want to play,” he said.

The players had been united by external commentary.

Tall Dog Jack Redpath was suspended after the team’s win over Gold Coast last weekend, meaning Travis Cloke — who has not played since taking a break in June to deal with his mental health — could be in the frame to be recalled for Sunday’s clash with Essendon.

“It would be great to have Trav back,” Johannisen said.

“He’s played the last couple of weeks in the VFL and seems to be really loving it and enjoying his footy.

“If he comes in this week, it would be a great bonus.

“Hopefully he can play really well and we can get a win for him.”