JASON’S RUSHING BACK TO HIS BEST
BULLDOGS speedster Jason Johannisen didn’t recognise the player he was becoming before his Round 1 demotion and said it was the “circuitbreaker” he needed to regain belief.
The Norm Smith medallist had already been left out of the Western Bulldogs’ Community Series clash, so he knew he was on the outside looking in.
Johannisen also privately acknowledged he hadn’t been himself for some time: the destructive on-field force who will forever be in Bulldogs folklore as a 2016 premiership immortal.
Lacking confidence, he fell into the trap of playing too conservatively and his penchant for taking off with the ball largely disappeared.
“As players, you put a lot of pressure on yourself, because you obviously want to perform at a high level, because you’re so competitive,” Johannisen said.
“But you put too much pressure on yourself and it just doesn’t output when you play the game, and you probably overthink things, so when you have to go back to the VFL, it does give you a sense of freedom.
“I wasn’t using my speed, which is how I play my best footy, and it just looked like I was a different player, so the VFL definitely helped me to get back to what I was capable of.”
Johannisen has reemerged from his period in VFL purgatory as a genuine utility for the senior side — he has played up forward, on a wing and in defence.
Coach Luke Beveridge’s tough love has been pivotal in him rebounding back to form, he said.
“Bevo’s been so supportive and he obviously comes to every VFL game and his feedback’s been unreal,” Johannisen said.
“I’m playing a lot of different roles for the team at the moment — wing, forward and back, so pinchhitting everywhere — and
I’m glad I can use my versatility and play wherever the team needs me.”
Johannisen and the topof-the-ladder Bulldogs resume their fiery rivalry with the Giants in Canberra on Friday night in a muchanticipated clash.
“It’s been such a healthy rivalry for the AFL,” he said.
“There’s always a bit of extra feeling in these games and I think our fans enjoy it and fans of footy in general enjoy it, because we bring the best out of each other.
“We love playing in big games and this is such a good game to be a part of.”