Number's up for Johnson
By Ben Broad
4:47 PM Wed 12 November, 2008
AT THE end of Wednesday's press conference, now former Richmond captain Kane Johnson reminded the assembled media he would return to his old No. 28 jumper now that he had stood aside as Tigers skipper.
"Hopefully it'll bring us a bit more success," he joked.
The one-time Crow wore that number during his seven seasons – and two premierships – with Adelaide.
For the past four years Johnson has run out in No.17, Jack Dyer's number and the one now worn by the man given the honour of leading the yellow and black.
But in his six seasons at Punt Road he is yet to taste finals football, and Johnson feels the Tigers are due for a change of luck.
"There hasn't been a lot of on-field success which has been disappointing," Johnson said from Gosch's Paddock on Wednesday.
"That's something that every leader would like to accomplish. I think the best thing [for me] was seeing this young group develop.
"I came in at a fairly difficult time at the football club. We were changing over a lot of players … I'm sure we'll get some benefits the next few years."
Johnson has relinquished the captaincy after reviewing his position at the end of the season.
He simply believes the time is right to pass the baton to "the new generation of Tiger leader".
While vice-captains Chris Newman and Nathan Foley loom as obvious candidates, Johnson wasn't giving anything away.
He mentioned Brett Deledio as a potential leadership candidate while acknowledging the Tiger Army would like to see Matthew Richardson lead the club.
"Oh look there's probably three or four, probably five, that are definitely ready [to captain the club]," Johnson said.
"In the next couple of weeks we're going to go through the process … and once that's done hopefully we can make an announcement as soon as possible."
Johnson endured a difficult start to 2008 when he was suspended for one match by his club after police charged him for being drunk and he was found urinating in public.
But the gifted midfielder rated the 2007 season, and not his off-field misdemeanour, as his toughest period as skipper.
"We only won three or four games and it was a tough time because there's always just negative press and negative feedback from your family and everyone you talk to; it's negative, negative, negative," he said.
"It had become quite daunting but we got through it. It's those times that you actually learn [from] and grow as a person and it was good development for our club to go through."
The 30-year-old, who has played 220 AFL matches including 116 for the Tigers, is uncertain how much longer he will continue playing but hopes he has plenty of footy left in his legs as he believes success is "just around the corner" for the Tigers.
"I'll just keep going year by year and see how it unfolds."
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