2136 days and 12 operations later, Alex is back
Peter Lalor
The Australian, August 2
Alex Johnson’s inclusion in Sydney’s senior side for the match against Collingwood on Saturday is the best story in football.
A story of triumph. Disaster. Setback. No, make that setbacks. Multiple setbacks. One-step-forward-and-flat-on-your-back setbacks. Five knee reconstructions. Yes, five.
Twelve operations. Years on antibiotics, months on crutches, weeks in bed, dark days of pain, frustration and fear.
Johnson was born to play senior football. Included in the Swans team at 19 he played all but four games in 2011 and every match in 2012, including the side’s grand final victory over Hawthorn. Played well too. Critical defensive contributions in the last, tight minutes. Celebrated even better. Nobody, but nobody has shrieked and yelled and delighted in a victory like that young man did that day and night. He threatened to turn himself inside out.
Lucky he did really because it was the last game of senior football he has played.
One knee reconstruction led to another and another and another and then another. Infection set into the bone. There were hairy moments when his body became so toxic he went from a meeting with coach John Longmire to the hospital and into surgery.
There was, apparently, little time to spare. It was another infection. A really serious infection. Nobody wants to elaborate, but it’s fair to surmise there was more than his football future on the line that time.
There have been 2136 days between senior games. Five seasons have come and gone and five premiership cups won since then. Australia has had four prime ministers. Some 39 players have made their debut for the Swans since his last match.
He has never run through a banner with Dane Rampe or Lance Franklin. They’re both post Johnson.
Still, the now 26-year-old never, ever gave up the idea of playing again and the Swans stuck with him through thin and thinner.
“I had my eyes firmly set on coming back to the AFL and that’s why I’ve stuck at it and had five knee reconstructions, 12 operations on the knee and been through a lot over the journey, but I have always had my sights on getting back in the AFL,” Johnson said yesterday.
“You speak to anyone that is close to me and they know I wouldn’t give up until that happens, but there were times lying in a hospital bed, having two surgeries in a week that I was more concerned about my health rather than getting back and playing footy — you start to question whether it will actually happen — so I am over the moon that it’s come.”
Against all odds for Alex
Neil Cordy
The Daily Telegraph, August 2
It’s a comeback story for the ages.
The most persistent player in the AFL Alex Johnson will play his first game of senior football since the 2012 grand final when he lines up against Collingwood at the SCG on Saturday night.
When he runs out against the Magpies it will have been 2136 days since he last played AFL footy.
In that time there have been four different prime ministers and the Swans have played 143 games without him.
The last time he played Brownlow favourite Tom Mitchell was yet to debut and Marcus Bontempelli hadn’t even been drafted.
There have also been 39 players who have debuted for Sydney and 27 of his current teammates are yet to play senior football alongside him. Among them is Dane Rampe who came into the team as a direct result of Johnson’s first knee injury, he has now played 133 games.
Over that time opportunities to call it quits have been plentiful for the 26 year old who has had a staggering 12 knee operations including five reconstructions over a four-year period from early 2013.
“I had my eyes firmly set on coming back to the AFL,” Johnson said.
“That’s why I’ve stuck at it and had five knee reconstructions, 12 operations on the knee and been through a lot over the journey but I have always had my sights on getting back in the AFL. You speak to anyone that is close to me and they know I wouldn’t give up until that happens, but there were times lying in a hospital bed, having two surgeries in a week that I was more concerned about my health rather than getting back and playing footy, you start to question whether it will actually happen so I am over the moon that it’s come.”
Magic Johnson: Swan returns after six cursed years
Andrew Wu
SMH, August 2
When Alex Johnson finished the last exam of his commerce degree, his father promised to throw him a massive dinner to celebrate.
"He said 'it will not be as big as the dinner you throw when I play my next game'," Johnson's father Graeme recalled.
The time has come for that dinner with Johnson on the verge of realising what many had thought to be an impossible dream by returning to senior football.
The injury-cursed defender will on Saturday night make his comeback for Sydney in their clash against Collingwood at the SCG. It will have been 2135 days since he last wore the red and the white on the biggest stage of all in the 2012 grand final.
In between his strength and resilience has been tested like few footballers in the history of the modern game. He's had five knee reconstructions, seven other operations on his knee, a recurring infection and groin surgery.
Only eight other Swans from the 2012 premiership team remain on the list. Others careers have come and gone during his time out. He missed Kurt Tippett's five years at the club.
He's only ever played against Lance Franklin, not with. The list goes on.
"Someone mentioned to me today a lot of the boys running out with him on the weekend, the last time he played an AFL game was when they were in primary school," Swans coach John Longmire said.
Swan Johnson back in AFL after 12 knee ops
Rob Forsaith
The Newcastle Herald, August 2
Injury-cursed Sydney defender Alex Johnson will make his long-awaited AFL return, almost six years since his last senior game.
The Swans have confirmed Johnson will face Collingwood at the SCG on Saturday night.
The 26-year-old has endured five knee reconstructions and a total of 12 knee operations since the 2012 grand final, his most recent AFL game.
"I'm really excited, just a whole bunch of emotions," Johnson told reporters.
"I've been through a lot over the journey but I always had my sights on getting back to the AFL.
"That's why I've stuck at it."
Swans welcome return of Alex Johnson after 2136 days on sideline
Peter Lalor
The Australian, August 2
The Swans might be in trouble but there are smiling faces at the club today with the news that Alex Johnson is set to make his return to football after 2136 days on the sidelines.
The defender played in the side’s 2012 premiership and has not had a senior game since.
Johnson, 26, has endured five knee reconstructions and endured other surgeries when one procedure caused a staph infection of the bone.
Doctors even became concerned that the repeat operations had weakened the bones.
Johnson has had some unrelated injury set backs this year but after playing seven successive games in the NEAFL is ready to make his return.
Senior Swan backs kids as Hannebery makes bid to face Pies
Andrew Wu
SMH, August 2
Sydney vice-captain Dane Rampe has thrown his support behind the Swans' band of youngsters, adamant the club will turn around its form slump in time to make the finals.
A defiant Rampe has thumbed his nose at critics writing off the Swans, who are in danger of missing the September action for the first time since 2009.
The Swans were the big losers from last week, dropping out of the eight with their loss to Essendon with many doubting they will return.
Although their recent form suggests changes are necessary, the Swans are not in a position to wield the axe given the club's lengthy injury list.
The possible returns of captains of Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack has been offset somewhat by the two-game suspension to running back Zak Jones. Jack is considered the more likely of the pair to play.
The Swans have not ruled out triple All Australian Dan Hannebery, whose form has been severely affected by injury this year, from facing the Magpies but it's more likely he will come back next week against Melbourne in a match which is likely to have a huge say on the final eight.
"He's missed the three games with a calf injury but hasn't had any setbacks and is in good conditioning and training form at this point in time," Swans football manager Tom Harley said.
"Clearly, he had the two calfs this year, we need to respect that, certainly not ruling him out at this stage."
