Author Topic: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)  (Read 52216 times)

Offline one-eyed

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Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« on: August 27, 2015, 01:25:19 AM »
Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights

Jake Niall
The Age
August 27, 2015


Stuart Dew was a contentious late career recruit. Alastair Clarkson wanted him, others were dubious. Clarkson won and so did the Hawks, since the straight left foot of the rotund Dew turned the 2008 grand final

Brian Lake was an easier call. The Hawks needed a power defender to man the monsters. Lake, then 30, was not giving a yelp for the Dogs. Hawthorn dangled September glory and the football life of Brian was transformed, as a Norm Smith medal and consecutive flags followed.

Lake and Dew brought home the bacon. Paul Chapman, who has just retired, couldn't. Essendon were not close enough to the premiership for Chappy to end his career with a flourish.

In late 2015, Steve Johnson finds himself in territory not dissimilar to his old teammate Chapman two years ago. Stevie's future remains up in the air, with no contract yet offered for next year. Johnson opted not to join the Giants last October, when an 11th hour trade was put to him.

In the event that Johnson wants to play on (likely) and the Cats reluctantly decide that they must cull him (50-50) – in part to pay for the incoming recruits (Lachie Henderson, Patrick Dangerfield), but also to accelerate their transition – there would be few clubs that stand to gain from skilful Stevie's trickery.

But Richmond are a rare club who could benefit from Johnson's deft touch. The Tigers are close enough to a flag to take short-term steps and have a need for a forward who can slot 30-40 goals.

No clubs should consider Johnson unless they satisfy the following criteria: One is that they are capable of winning the premiership in 2016 – a measure that counts out nearly a dozen teams.

They must have a need for a forward/midfielder of Stevie's type – albeit there's no one quite like him. Ideally, they should have relatively few oldies – which counts out Hawthorn, Fremantle, North and Sydney.

The Tigers have only two players on their list who will be 30 (just) next season, in Ivan Maric and Troy Chaplin; of their premier players, Brett Deledio, 28, is the oldest and might play until his middle 30s given his unimpaired athleticism.

Johnson, thus, is less of risk for Richmond, who only need offer him a moderate one year, incentive-based contract. They could pay him a base of $200,000 with match payments.

As an unrestricted free agent, Stevie would cost the Tigers zero in terms of draft; all they would be giving up is a modest sum of money for one year and a spot on their list.

The upcoming draft is said to be more shallow than Paris Hilton. Is Johnson for one year better than pick 80? I'd say yes, because the potential gains comfortably outweigh the risks.

The prospective downside of getting Stevie to Punt Rd would be that he would deprive a youngster, such as Ben Lennon, of senior games or minutes. But Lennon ought to be playing regularly in 2016 regardless of incoming personnel.

Stevie, obviously, is superior to Sam Lloyd, 25, and Kane Lambert, 23. That Johnson can be high maintenance off the park shouldn't concern the Tigers, whose head of football, Dan Richardson, managed Stevie for several years (they were spotted playing golf lately) and knows his warts well.

The other consideration is whether the Tigers land other recruits. They have not given up on Adam Treloar, who is favoured to join Collingwood, have entertained Chris Yarran, and have irons in a few fires. If they land one sizeable fish, there will be room for Johnson; if they net two, Stevie would be less appealing.

Richmond's forward line has improved since Tyrone Vickery's renaissance, but it is shy of premiership calibre in comparison to West Coast and the Hawks. Johnson, who can play on the ball, too, would give the Tigers more flexibility – assuming he performed – in their use of Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio.

Richmond people, including Brendon Gale, will recall the Tigers tried to top up with a sneaky old forward in Paul Hudson following a final four finish in 2001 – a decision that went south and became a cautionary Tiger tale of the dangers of overestimating the future.

Johnson showed last Saturday night that, when his body is right, he can still find a goal. The Tigers should be seriously looking at whether they can find a place for him.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/the-tigers-should-have-stevie-j-in-their-sights-20150826-gj8ggn.html

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Re: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2015, 01:57:15 AM »
Good in theory.
Nothing in physicality.
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Offline Eat_em_Alive

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Re: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2015, 06:44:37 AM »
No thanks
Maybe the Dees or blues are interested  :shh
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Offline WilliamPowell

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Re: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2015, 06:48:41 AM »
No from me

Has proved this year that "father time" has caught up with him. Too many cameos not much consistency. Throw in his lack of discipline (how many reports in the past 3 years?) and the answer is easy for me NOPE
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Re: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2015, 09:26:39 AM »
Nup

Offline crannyvegas

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Re: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2015, 09:45:02 AM »
I'm torn on this one. You can't help but imagine Stevie J at his most dangerous in a tiger jumper next year.

If we want him at the club as a coach in the future, and the cost was a 1 year 200k contract... I'm inclined to think the risk is worth the potential reward.

Needs to get his body right.

I've watched a bit of him this year and old player habits are creeping into his game- playing for frees, silly hits off the ball etc.
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Offline WA Tiger

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Re: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2015, 09:56:48 AM »
No. Would end up plodding through until the end, a bit like Chaplin at the Dons.
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Offline 🏅Dooks

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Re: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2015, 10:06:58 AM »
I'm gonna say yes providing he falls on his sword and satisfies the club he's committed to a full season of disciplined team football.
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dwaino

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Re: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2015, 10:22:50 AM »
Wouldn't cost anything and if the Cats are going to let him go then he won't be in any position to negotiate too much of a wage. Well and truly agree that his best is past him, but if his body and fitness can be well managed I think his on field experience and leadership (discipline aside) could be invaluable if we are serious about pushing a flag in the next season or two. We would need another player or two and really require guys like Conca and Corey Ellis to go to the next level, but if all went to plan then having Johnson sitting full time in the forward half could really make us a seriously potent side. Deledio will take the defender that Johnson usually gets so he would effectively be off the chain.

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Re: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2015, 10:25:29 AM »
Wouldn't cost anything and if the Cats are going to let him go then he won't be in any position to negotiate too much of a wage. Well and truly agree that his best is past him, but if his body and fitness can be well managed I think his on field experience and leadership (discipline aside) could be invaluable if we are serious about pushing a flag in the next season or two. We would need another player or two and really require guys like Conca and Corey Ellis to go to the next level, but if all went to plan then having Johnson sitting full time in the forward half could really make us a seriously potent side. Deledio will take the defender that Johnson usually gets so he would effectively be off the chain. Add a goal kicking mid and improvement from our crumbling forwards and we are a 5 goal a game better side

Exactly.
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Offline Rodgerramjet

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Re: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« Reply #10 on: August 27, 2015, 10:33:10 AM »
Jack Niall, "Gone Fishing"

Personally I'd put Johnson on the coaching staff before the list.
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Offline pmac21

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Re: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« Reply #11 on: August 27, 2015, 10:36:44 AM »
Were past offering old blokes a lifeline

Offline scjhammo

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Re: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« Reply #12 on: August 27, 2015, 10:38:18 AM »
I thought he has looked slow this year we have had players clog up the list but what would we get a year out of him like the year we got Hudson and thought hed be the answer and was pretty hopeless id be hoping that we do pick up a couple of better players. Well look at it this way is Johnson better then Lloyd,Gordon,Thomas,Arnott and those likes   :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

Offline Stalin

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Re: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« Reply #13 on: August 27, 2015, 10:49:02 AM »
Bartel for me
Then he grabbed two chopsticks and stuck them in his mouth , pretending to be a walrus

Offline Simonator

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Re: Tigers should have Steve Johnson in their sights ... (Age)
« Reply #14 on: August 27, 2015, 12:03:27 PM »
absolutely not. massive wanker and past his prime