MICHAEL Johnson's elevation into Fremantle's leadership group this week proves there are many ways to set the example at a football club, and they're not always on the field.

Johnson, 25, is certainly one of Fremantle's most important players, but a serious ankle injury restricted the versatile and creative defender to just 10 games in 2009.

So rather than lead on the field, it was from the sidelines, in Fremantle's constantly expanding rehab group, that Johnson set the example for his teammates and earned elevation into their leadership group.

"Being out for most of the season with the ankle injury, I wanted to prove something this year," Johnson told afl.com.au from Princess Margaret Hospital, where he is an ambassador for cancer charity Redkite.

"I really worked hard in rehab, so I guess my teammates saw me as a leader there, working hard in the gym and trying to get my ankle right.

"I was one of the oldest guys in the rehab group and it was a big group. 

"You look out the window and you see all the boys training hard and working every weekend on the Saturday and Sunday to win. We were trying to work as hard as those boys."

Johnson, much-improved defender Paul Duffield and David Mundy joined the leadership group for 2010 to cater for the abundance of first and second-year players at the club.

Matthew Pavlich remains captain with Aaron Sandilands as his sole deputy, while Antoni Grover and Des Headland held their leadership positions.

Johnson, who doesn't hide his leadership ambitions, said it was a great honour to be nominated by his teammates and he hoped the extra responsibility would help his football. 

"I did try for the leadership group last year and just missed out," he said. "I've worked hard and I do see myself as a leader on the field with a lot of voice and a lot of instruction.

"You have more responsibility as a leader. If things aren't going right with the team it falls back on you, so you've got to go out there every week and perform."

After spending the last three months of the 2009 season in rehab, Johnson said he had been in full pre-season training for the last two weeks and his season-ending injury was now behind him. 

After injuring his right ankle against Richmond in round 10, Johnson was originally believed to have a sprain that would sideline him for two weeks. It became a six-week torn ligaments injury and eventually a season-ending loose cartilage problem.

"I was devastated with the bad news, but that's part of football," Johnson said.

"I worked hard in rehab and it's paying off now. I'm back with the boys training and hopefully I'm fully fit when we start playing."

Johnson, Fremantle's best clubman of 2009, visited Princess Margaret Hospital on Thursday to participate in the Christmas Carols in the wards for Redkite, an Australian charity that supports children, young people and their families through cancer.
 
"It's part of being an AFL footballer, getting out and among the kids," he said. "I'd put my hand up for anything that I can do to help.

"I've got two kids myself and to see these kids in a lot of pain, it's very sad."