Brad Johnson Gone!

[Media Park]

http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/john ... 14wwt.html

Not exactly unexpected, but congrats on a great career!

[MW]

Needs to retire immediately if they are any chance against Sydney.

[Lightning McQueen]

What a glory seeker, just trying to ensure his selection this week IMO. Yes, he has been a great servant for the club but he doesn't really fit into the game-plan that the Bulldogs have, no room for two slow-moving one dimensional forwards.

[stun72]

How long will it take Aker to say "I told you so" or something similar??

[Booney]

How long will it take Aker to say "I told you so" or something similar??

How long will it take Aker to STFU! He really is a knob. Very good footballer, very much a knob.

[Wedgie]

Since Johnno and mates got rid of Akker they've gone backwards. I was a fan of Johnno for most of his career but not anymore. Go Sydney!

[Booney]

Not sure Aker played much of a role in the Bulldogs 2010 Premiership assault to be honest, so going backwards after he left might not mean one thing has anything to do with the other. They were on the slide weeks before they gave him the arse.

Johnson obviously played on in 2010 on the romantic notion the Dogs might just send him off with a flag, but for mine, he should have put his hand up about 6 weeks ago and realised that what was best for the club was not for him to be pushing for selection.

He has looked lame for at least a month when out there and a complete passenger. Sad end for one bloke who everyone likes and admires.

[stun72]

How long will it take Aker to say "I told you so" or something similar??

How long will it take Aker to STFU! He really is a knob. Very good footballer, very much a knob.

Booney I agree he is a knob but he will have to say something...

[FlyingHigh]

Not sure Aker played much of a role in the Bulldogs 2010 Premiership assault to be honest, so going backwards after he left might not mean one thing has anything to do with the other. They were on the slide weeks before they gave him the arse.

Johnson obviously played on in 2010 on the romantic notion the Dogs might just send him off with a flag, but for mine, he should have put his hand up about 6 weeks ago and realised that what was best for the club was not for him to be pushing for selection.

He has looked lame for at least a month when out there and a complete passenger. Sad end for one bloke who everyone likes and admires.

Agree Booney, except that after they got rid of Aker, didn't they come out and play great footy for about three weeks?

[Wedgie]

They beat Freo in Melbourne, the Kangaroos and Adelaide. Whooopdeedoo!
Then they lost to Geelong by over 100 points.

[Booney]

Not sure Aker played much of a role in the Bulldogs 2010 Premiership assault to be honest, so going backwards after he left might not mean one thing has anything to do with the other. They were on the slide weeks before they gave him the arse.

Johnson obviously played on in 2010 on the romantic notion the Dogs might just send him off with a flag, but for mine, he should have put his hand up about 6 weeks ago and realised that what was best for the club was not for him to be pushing for selection.

He has looked lame for at least a month when out there and a complete passenger. Sad end for one bloke who everyone likes and admires.

Agree Booney, except that after they got rid of Aker, didn't they come out and play great footy for about three weeks?

Perhaps they won, but not great footy. Have they beaten a fellow top 4 contender this year?

[interested observer]

Since Johnno and mates got rid of Akker they've gone backwards. I was a fan of Johnno for most of his career but not anymore. Go Sydney!

I reckon a few at the Bullies wouldn't of minded him still being there now....

[rod_rooster]

Not sure Aker played much of a role in the Bulldogs 2010 Premiership assault to be honest, so going backwards after he left might not mean one thing has anything to do with the other. They were on the slide weeks before they gave him the arse.

Johnson obviously played on in 2010 on the romantic notion the Dogs might just send him off with a flag, but for mine, he should have put his hand up about 6 weeks ago and realised that what was best for the club was not for him to be pushing for selection.

He has looked lame for at least a month when out there and a complete passenger. Sad end for one bloke who everyone likes and admires.

Speak for yourself. Never liked the guy and his selfishness in playing on this year and not to mention still playing now is not lost on many people. It seems far more about Brad Johnson than what's best for the Western Bulldogs. Says a lot about that club and it's no surprise they've only ever won one flag.

[Hondo]

Speak for yourself. Never liked the guy and his selfishness in playing on this year and not to mention still playing now is not lost on many people. It seems far more about Brad Johnson than what's best for the Western Bulldogs. Says a lot about that club and it's no surprise they've only ever won one flag.

That's a bit harsh IMO Rod.

Can any player honestly say they are only playing for their team with no personal goals? Crawford went on one last season and ended up playing an important role in a premiership. A few more injuries at the Hawks that season and we might have been calling him selfish for playing on.

The Bulldogs were legitmately in the mix for 2010 at the start of the year but as it's turned out they may have peaked in 2009 and should have been rebuilding in 2010. They weren't the only club trying to squeeze one last attempt out of a list containing veteran players.

Maybe they should have given the captaincy to someone else so he could more easily be dropped if need be (a la Crawford - not that he needed to be dropped that year). Who are we to say he should give up a shot at a flag?

It's also tough to link Brad Johnson playing one last season with their premiership record over the last 85 seasons.

[rod_rooster]

Speak for yourself. Never liked the guy and his selfishness in playing on this year and not to mention still playing now is not lost on many people. It seems far more about Brad Johnson than what's best for the Western Bulldogs. Says a lot about that club and it's no surprise they've only ever won one flag.

That's a bit harsh IMO Rod.

Can any player honestly say they are only playing for their team with no personal goals? Crawford went on one last season and ended up playing an important role in a premiership. A few more injuries at the Hawks that season and we might have been calling him selfish for playing on.

The Bulldogs were legitmately in the mix for 2010 at the start of the year but as it's turned out they may have peaked in 2009 and should have been rebuilding in 2010. They weren't the only club trying to squeeze one last attempt out of a list containing veteran players.

Maybe they should have given the captaincy to someone else so he could more easily be dropped if need be (a la Crawford - not that he needed to be dropped that year). Who are we to say he should give up a shot at a flag?

It's also tough to link Brad Johnson playing one last season with their premiership record over the last 85 seasons.

Crawford didn't play a year too long. He was very lucky that he won a flag in his last year but he was easily in the best 22 (i'd argue the best 10) in 2008 despite his injury concerns. He was probably in the top 5 or 6 players for Hawthorn in the 2008 GF. Johnson is hobbling around and embarrassing himself and his club. Crawford had his decision to retire made much easier than Johnson given he'd just won a flag but one went a year too long the other went out on top whilst still playing good footy.

You might think it's tough to link Johnson playing one season too long with the lack of success over 85 years but lets be honest, Johnson playing at the moment means the Bulldogs are not putting their best side on the field. Rohan Smith a couple of years ago was in the same boat. The Dogs have and continue to put the individual ahead of the team. The best thing the Bulldogs can boast is Ted Whitten. Other clubs will point to team achievements as their major success. Johnson is ensuring that his "beloved Bulldogs" won't have the best chance to win this week and i for one won't feel any sympathy when he leaves the ground in tears because they won't be for his club but purely for himself.

[Media Park]

Massive LOL thought, but what do we say if the Bullies win and Johnson winds back the clock and kicks 5 goals...?

[Lightning McQueen]

Massive LOL thought, but what do we say if the Bullies win and Johnson winds back the clock and kicks 5 goals...?

He'd have to wind back the sundial, not the clock.

[Dogwatcher]

Won't happen, as much as I'd love to see it.
A sad end to a very enjoyable and durable career.
I never saw that famous smile once during last Saturday night's game, which tells a story in itself.
I thought he actually might have called it then and there.
Probably would have been the right thing to do.
But...he must believe he has something to contribute.

[Hondo]

Crawford didn't play a year too long. He was very lucky that he won a flag in his last year but he was easily in the best 22 (i'd argue the best 10) in 2008 despite his injury concerns.

In hindsight this is true.

Crawf had a great run with injury in his last year which is not common for players of his age. Previously very durable players can find their body suddenly breaking down (ie, Goodwin).

It could easily have gone the other way.

Whether or not there's a better alternative in the Bulldogs current list to Johnson is arguable. With their injury problems I think a first gamer played last weekend which says something about whether a half fit Johnson is still better than the next available player. Plus you have the possible psycological impact on the other players from the captain being dropped.

I think it's easy to pin all the problems on "selfish" Johnson but I think it goes a bit deeper.

[overloaded]

I can tbeleive he is rated so highly. He was no standout player. Sure he has long-gevity but thats were it ends