A rejuvenated Michael Johnson is drawing on his AFL experience to help educate the next generation of Freo defenders.
The 32-year-old is in his 14th year at Freo and believes the transition period the club is currently going through is a positive step.
“Over the last couple of years we’ve lost a lot of quality players with experience with the likes of Luke McPharlin and Paul Duffield leaving,” Johnson said.
“But I think the club is going in the right direction with this young group, it’s exciting and it’s great to be a part of.”
With injury ruling him out of the majority of the 2016 AFL season, Johnson has played all 16 games so far this year and credits a ‘big’ pre-season to this years consistency.
“I had to adapt my body back to the AFL standards and my goal was to play one week at a time and I’ve been lucky enough to play every game so far,” Johnson said
“It doesn’t get any easier, but I am enjoying my football at the moment and I hopefully I can play the rest of the season without missing any footy.”
Johnson has a fellow leader in Freo’s backline in premiership player Joel Hamling and the 225 game veteran is enjoying playing with and learning from the 24-year-old.
“A lot of people don’t know that Joel hasn’t even played 40 AFL games,” Johnson said.
“He is the player that puts his hand up every weekend to play on the best forwards in the competition.
“He is really aggressive on his opponent, has a strong voice and helps every player.
“He has come over as a younger player, but he is playing like a veteran and he has a bright future with Fremantle.”
