In early 2011, a skinny Victorian teenager named Alex Johnson hoped to play just one game for the Sydney Swans.

He never dreamed that just a year later, he would have played 20 senior games for the club in his debut season, including two finals, and become an invaluable member of the Swans defence.

Johnson’s dream run has continued so far in 2012, with the 20-year-old clocking up more minutes than most other players in the Swans’ NAB Cup campaign.

Johnson said his NAB Cup game time combined with a solid pre-season has given him the best preparation to produce another standout season on field for the Swans.

“I went into the NAB Cup fully fit and because I had been running since November, it gave me a really good base,” Johnson told sydneyswans.com.au.

“With the two-and-two system, with two subs and two interchange, us defenders were lucky enough to play big minutes.

“That obviously gave me a lot of confidence in pre-season, and I’ve been lucky enough to not miss a session or match through injury.

“It’s been really great to (take) all of that hard work we’ve been doing into games and I’m really looking forward to getting into the season proper.”

Johnson, who was a keen athlete as a junior, said long-distance running and aerobic fitness has always come naturally to him, and is looking forward to playing extended minutes when the season kicks off next week.

“My aerobic ability is in the top five to ten guys in the club, which is pretty handy if I’m playing 90 per cent plus in games,” he said.

“Growing up my main two sports were footy and athletics and I’ve always been a bit of a runner, which has obviously helped me on the football side of things and has always sort of been a natural gift of mine.

“Some guys are good in the weights room and some guys are good on the track, and I’ve always had the running thing down pat.

“I’ve been completing every session and just doing it to the best of my ability and coming off completely spent, which was my aim throughout the pre-season so I could get the most out of myself so I could perform at my best when the season comes around.”

After a quality debut season which exceeded expectations, Johnson is now aiming higher for season 2012 and unlike last year, Johnson said he has bigger goals in mind than just one game.

“Coming into it last season, my aim was to play one game and that was the deal I made with my parents to just want to debut and that was it, but to play 20 games and two finals exceeded all of my expectations and the coach’s expectations as well,” he said.

“This year my aim to is play every game that I’m available for barring injury, and just to continue to improve as that third tall defender.

“I’ve just been learning more and more about my defensive game and I am just continuing to develop, so that one day I can develop into that centre half back or full back who plays on the big players.

“That’s my aim for two to three years down the track, but in the short term I just want to play every game I’m available for and continue to improve.”