Newly crowned Best Clubman Alex Johnson admitted to “removing” himself from the football club during the initial stages of his rehabilitation from his first of five knee reconstructions.

Johnson, who’s on the mend after undergoing his latest operation in June, tried to deal with his 2013 knee injury on his own and inadvertently became an outsider to the day-to-day goings on within the playing group.

The 26-year-old’s cause hasn’t been helped by recurring complications which has sidelined him for the past four seasons, including a second ACL rupture during the 2014 pre-season.

Speaking to guests at Thursday night’s Bob Skilton Medal, Johnson says a helping hand from Rhyce Shaw helped him “reconnect” with the football club.

“To get an opportunity with Rhyce this year, to help out with the NEAFL guys, has connected me back with the Club,” Johnson said.

“I probably removed myself a little bit when I was first injured. I just wanted to be by myself as I fought through my injury.

“The fact Rhyce and John (Longmire) gave me the opportunity to really get involved and just re-emerge within the group and get around the younger guys has been huge for me.”

As fate would have it, Johnson’s name will be etched on the same award his mentor and now great mate received 12 months earlier.

“(Rhyce) has had a big impact on my career,” Johnson added backstage.

“He’s been massive for me since the day I walked into the football club, he was my unofficial mentor for the couple of years I did play.

“And over the last four years, would I have kept going if I didn’t have Rhyce in my corner? Probably not.

“The fact that I’m held in the same company as him is massive for me.”

Johnson has been running solidly for the past month in the surest sign yet he’ll be able to recover in time to play competitive football in 2017.