Robert B Johnson

DOB: 3 June, 1935
Died: 21 May, 2001

Debut: Round 11, 1954 against North Melbourne at MCG,
Last Game: Preliminary Final 1961 against Footscray at MCG

Games: 159
Goals: 228
Career statistics (external link)

Wins	Draws	Losses	Winning %
107	3	30	76.42

Number: 18 1954-1956, 16 1957-1961

From: ?

Honours
Premiership player - 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960
Grand Final player - 1954
Victoria state player - 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960 (9 games)
Team of the Century - Emergency
Hall of Fame inductee
Best First Year Player - 1954
Life Member
150 Heroes selection

The son of Robert C Johnson, 'Big Bob' could kick a goal like his dad but it was as a 198cm ruckman that he would become better known. Johnson had debuted as captain of the thirds, but played only eight games before he was promoted to the seconds. He made his senior debut just two weeks later. That season yielded 23 goals from 11 senior matches, and five Brownlow Medal votes. Not surprisingly he was voted Best First Year Player, and the side shocked the footballing world by going all the way to the Grand Final. In all Johnson played eight consecutive Grand Finals with the third and seniors between 1952 and 1959.

Splitting his time between the ruck and forward line, Johnson became one of the prime movers of his side's glory era. His setup with Athol Webb as a decoy forward was a famous feature of the era. He also had a habit of playing for, and often winning, free kicks which would infuriate opposition fans. In 1955 he formed a menacing ruck combination with Denis Cordner and played in the winning Grand Final side.

When Cordner retired the big ruckman came into his own. He had already been deadly in the middle, and equally effective when rested up forward, but in 1956 he kicked 43 goals in 19 games - including 7 against Essendon in round 9 - and played in a second Grand Final victory. Another followed in 1957. He played in the next two grand finals, for a loss and a win.

Battling illness and injury throughout the 1960 season, Johnson nevertheless played 16 games including the Grand Final triumph where he was one of the sides best.

Overall Johnson played in seven grand finals for five victories. His career in the VFL ended when the Demons were knocked out of the 1961 finals series by Footscray.

At 27-years-old Bob left Melbourne and joined East Fremantle in the WAFL as a captain-coach. In 110 games for the Sharks he led them to four grand finals in a row and won the 1965 flag. In 1966 he kicked 107 goals for the season to top the WAFL goalkicking. During his time in Perth he was selected to play for WA and booted 5 goals in a 1967 loss to Victoria.

After also serving as an assistant coach at Subiaco, Johnson was linked to Essendon as a potential successor to John Coleman in 1968 but instead took up an offer to captain/coach Hamilton Imperials before later taking over at Oakleigh? in the VFA.

His first season saw more coaching than playing after breaking his ankle in the first game of the season, but the next year - aged 36 - he kicked 11 goals from 11 kicks in a game at age 36 en route to 91 for the season. With 69 more in 1972 he led the Devils to the Association flag.

Johnson coached Oakleigh from 1971 to 1974, missing out on the Demons coaching job at the end of 1973 and again in 1976 and also led McKinnon in the Federal League and Greensborough of the Diamond Valley League before retiring at 43.

He served as an MFC director in 1985 and 1986.