Johnson sweats on replacement
FREMANTLE veteran Michael Johnson will get a clearer picture of his future this week when the club decides how best to fill the void left by injured Tasmanian defender Alex Pearce.
Pearce is expected to undergo surgery after breaking his thumb during Sunday’s threepoint win over Adelaide at Optus Stadium.
The 23-year-old has been Fremantle’s best defender this season and his absence will leave a major hole.
Johnson was dropped after the round-10 loss to North Melbourne as Fremantle coach Ross Lyon amped up the club’s rebuild. The 33-year-old is out of contract at the season’s end and looks increasingly unlikely to earn a new deal.
On paper, Johnson shapes as the perfect replacement for Pearce. But if Lyon prefers to try out more of the squad’s younger players, it may mean Johnson will have to bide his time on the sidelines for longer.
“He still wants to play. He is pretty proud,” Lyon said of Johnson, who has played 239 games in a glittering career.
“He is leading our young players at Peel. He is such a good person. He works hard as a role model. It is what it is.
“We really respect Michael. In my tenure there is no one I respect higher than Michael.
“He will play a part. He understands what his part is and what we’re trying to do. He will pick up the baton if need be.”
If Lyon opts against recalling Johnson, the likes of Taylin Duman, Ryan Nyhuis Brennan Cox or Shane Kersten could fill in for Pearce.
Meanwhile, young defender Griffin Logue is set to spend eight weeks on the sidelines after injuring ankle ligaments while playing in the WAFL.
Cox was the hero, booting 4.0 to guide his side to the 10.11 (71) to 9.14 (68) win.
The result improved Fremantle’s season ledger to 5-7 and was achieved without star players Nat Fyfe, Aaron Sandilands, Stephen Hill and Brad Hill. Fyfe (suspension) and Sandilands (concussion) are to return for Saturday’s clash with Carlton at Etihad Stadium.
But Fremantle star Michael Walters has been slapped with a one-match AFL ban for striking Adelaide’s Jake Kelly. The ban was a rare sour note for the Dockers in their upset threepoint win over the Crows at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Walters was reported for headbutting Tom Doedee in the same match but the charge was dismissed. AAP