Ash Johnson Explained

Fullname:Ashley Johnson
Ash Johnson
Birth Date:10 June 1997
Birth Place:Halls Creek, Western Australia, Australia
Originalteam:Sturt (SANFL)
Draftpick:No. 3, 2021 mid-season draft
Debutdate:16 July 2022
Debutstadium:Adelaide Oval
Height:193 cm
Weight:91 kg
Position:Forward
Guernsey:40
Years1:2021–
Games Goals1:27 (36)
Statsend:Round 12, 2024

Ashley Johnson (born 10 June 1997) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

AFL career

Ash Johnson was selected for Collingwood at pick 3 in the 2021 mid-season draft.[1] Originally from Halls Creek in the northern Kimberley region of Western Australia, Johnson spent time playing for at Under-18 level in the West Australian Football League, North Wangaratta in the Ovens & King Football League, Scotch Old Collegians in the Adelaide Footy League, and in the South Australian National Football League before he was drafted by Collingwood.[2]

Johnson did not play any games for Collingwood in his first season. In 2022, he played his debut game in Round 18 against the Adelaide Crows in a 5-point victory. Johnson kicked his first two goals of his career in his debut game.[3] Johnson played every game after his debut game in 2022 for Collingwood. Ash Johnson played his first game of 2023 in Round 3.

After being nominated in Round 10, 2023, for Mark of the Year against Carlton,[4] [5] Johnson's form started to lapse. After being dropped by the senior Collingwood team around the middle of the 2023 season to the VFL side, Johnson had a minor moment of infamy when he took a mark on the wing against Frankston opponent Josh Smith and showboated in front of his fallen opponent by holding out the ball at arms' length as a taunt. As Johnson played on, he attempted a bounce as he ran towards the forward end of the ground. However, Johnson lost control of the ball and, as he slowed to recover the ball and regain momentum, Smith had managed to regain his footing and chase down Johnson, applying a tackle and causing a turnover.[6]

He is the brother of player Shane McAdam and rookie Roy Benning, and the cousin of 's Jy Farrar.[2]

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2023 season.[7]

|-| scope="row" | 2021 || || 40| 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —|-| scope="row" | 2022 || || 40| 9 || 15 || 9 || 52 || 14 || 66 || 30 || 18 || 1.7 || 1.0 || 5.8 || 1.6 || 7.3 || 3.3 || 2.0|-| scope="row" | 2023 || || 40| 15 || 21 || 10 || 83 || 38 || 121 || 53 || 23 || 1.4 || 0.7 || 5.5 || 2.5 || 8.1 || 3.5 || 1.5|- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3| Career! 24 !! 36 !! 19 !! 135 !! 52 !! 187 !! 83 !! 41 !! 1.5 !! 0.8 !! 5.6 !! 2.2 !! 7.8 !! 3.5 !! 1.7|}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-06-02 . AFL mid-season draft wrap: Rucks galore as Kangas cash in; Tigers take 'Marlion Pickett 2.0' . 2023-04-30 . Fox Sports . en.
  2. News: Baum . Greg . Pie from the sky: Inside the amazing journey of Collingwood's Ash Johnson . 2 May 2023 . The Age . 20 August 2022 . en.
  3. Web site: AFL - News, Fixtures, Scores & Results . 2023-04-30 . afl.com.au . 16 July 2022 . en.
  4. Web site: AFL Mark of the Year: Round 10 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230618205655/https://www.afl.com.au/mark-of-the-year . 2023-06-18 . 2023-07-02 . afl.com.au . en.
  5. Web site: 2023-07-02 . Ash Johnson admits watching himself take massive screamer . 2023-07-02 . 7NEWS . en.
  6. Web site: VersaceeSandals . 2023-07-02 . Ash Johnson has an absolute mare in the VFL . 2023-07-02 . r/AFL.
  7. Web site: Ash Johnson - player stats by season. Australian Football. 4 October 2023.