Geelong star Steve Johnson played an important role in the Cats' win over Carlton. Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source: Herald Sun
There were players who had more of the ball, had more say at the centre bounces, kicked more goals.
But none of them brought what Steve Johnson added to the Geelong team in his first game of the season.
Johnson infused a dash of footy smarts, confidence and unpredictability to the Cats line up. And steel.
He started in the centre square and his first involvement was to lodge a shoulder fair into the middle of Chris
Judd's chest a split second before the opening bounce.
Live HQ: SuperCoach scores, stats
By the end of the term Johnson had seven disposals, among them a look-away handball, a banana pass to a leading forward and a snapped point after a dummy had created just enough space.
But for all of those extravagances, it was a courageous act in the 25th minute that reinforced his true value and helped create a goal.
A Mathew Stokes pass into the forward 50 was in danger of being cut off, until Johnson backed into the incoming traffic, wore a knee in the back, and forced the Sherrin to spill into the path of a grateful James Podisadly.
Johnson also helps to instil that sense of self-belief. When Taylor Hunt kicked two consecutive goals in the second term, Johnson ran over and made sure Hunt's direct opponent, Marc Murphy, knew all about it.
Johnson roams the field -- shuffling around like a middle-aged man who has sand in his Speedos -- looking for ways he might influence play.
When the game was up for grabs late in the third quarter and Carlton was mounting a challenge, Johnson pushed himself into the midfield and had half a dozen damaging possessions.
Again he backed into a pack to spoil a Carlton mark.
Two minutes into the final term, having tried to land a lunging tackle on Andrew Walker, he hobbled off with a crook right knee.
But with with Carlton storming home in the final term, closing to within 17 points, Johnson went into the centre square.
He managed seven disposals in the final term, 16 in the second half. Not a bad effort for a man coming back from injury in his first match of the season.
Geelong is a different team with him in the 22.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Johnson adds steel, silk to Cats
Dengan url
http://astagaberita.blogspot.com/2013/04/johnson-adds-steel-silk-to-cats.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Johnson adds steel, silk to Cats
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Johnson adds steel, silk to Cats
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar