The host broadcaster’s analysts referred to a ‘new Ross Lyon’, one whose team looked to attack quickly from defence and through the corridor.
Defender Johnson was one of the architects of Freo’s commanding 70-point victory over Collingwood at Etihad Stadium.
He said Freo had not made it a focus to drastically change its game plan, which has always been predicated on competing fiercely.
“We just knew that if we had the chance to open it up and go through the corridor or if we had a loose player, we’d use him,” Johnson said.
“We know that if numbers can get back and help the defence and catch the opposition out, then we’ll go quick (the other way).
“We play the way that we play, and that’s taking on the opposition and competing.
“It’s a credit to the boys, we stuck at it and executed well.”
Johnson said there was much to like from the win, which was Freo’s fifth consecutive in round 1.
But the 2013 All Australian said most pleasing was that every player performed their role just as Lyon had asked of them.
“Going into the game, we knew his instructions and the way to play against the Collingwood side,” Johnson said.
“We knew the first quarter was going to be tough, and Collingwood came out hard, but then we stepped up a gear and you could see the way that we played is the way that we trained leading into the game.
“It was focussed and it was fantastic to see the boys step it up like we did.”
