Jason can keep secret Defender deal was surprise to team
GUN Western Bulldogs midfielder Lachie Hunter had no idea teammate Jason Johannisen had recommitted to the club until he checked his Instagram earlier this week.
Johannisen, who had come under scrutiny for lack of output during his contract talks with the reigning premiers, signed for another five seasons on Monday but did not let the secret get out at Whitten Oval.
The dashing defender was due to come out of contract at the end of the season and attracted rival interest before eventually re-signing until the end of 2022.
“We were all rapt and I actually did not know until the club posted it on Instagram, they kept it quiet in house,” Hunter said.
“We were actually cracking a few jokes about it that morning in the locker room, about how he was going to leave.
“And two hours later it came out that he had resigned. He did not even chirp up about it.
“It is a great result for him and the club.”
Hunter’s Bulldogs have fallen to 11th on the ladder after they were smashed by premiership favourites Adelaide by 59 points last Friday.
The Bulldogs are staring down the barrel of being the first team since Hawthorn in 2009 to miss the post-season after winning the flag the year previous.
They face Carlton this Sunday, after a rare nine-day break, and Hunter said yesterday’s session was a big one for the club.
“It was a pretty bad performance, our worst of the year, or one of, against Adelaide,” he said.
“There is always a bit of wanting to get out there soon.
“But, in saying that, you can train and do match play which you would not normally do on a five- or six-day break.”
While it is still a couple of weeks away, the 22-year-old is looking forward to a trip to the Far North.
“It is a nice change of environment and a good, quiet town,” Hunter said. “There is still plenty to do and the boys love getting down to the beach.
“The ground at Cazalys Stadium, it becomes like local footy with the grass on the hill and everyone around.”
The Western Bulldogs take on the Gold Coast Suns at Cazalys Stadium on July 22. Tickets via ticketdirect.com.au CARLTON FB C.Byrne 38 HB C HF FF Foll Inter SUNDAY, MCG, 3.20PM S.Docherty 15 K.Simpson 6 S.Kerridge 11 S.Petrevski-Seton 5 M.Kreuzer 8 WESTERN BULLDOGS L.Jones 14 L.Plowman 20 J.Weitering 23 B.Gibbs 4 C.Curnow 30 L.Casboult 41 M.Murphy 3 Inter D.Thomas 39 J.Lamb 13 M.Wright 46 J.Silvagni 1 Z.Fisher 25