Aidyn Johnson wants retribution against Collingwood after ‘gut-wrenching’ loss to West Coast
AIDYN Johnson wants retribution against Collingwood after his part in the Power’s gut-wrenching loss to West Coast last weekend.
- Port Adelaide’s seven-year glitch
- Dougal now key to Power’s finals push
- Defender Clurey shock out for Power
- Magpies skipper Summerton to retire
- Let me replace Dicko: Watts
OPPORTUNITY is Aidyn Johnson’s friend confronting Collingwood in today’s cutthroat clash at the MCG following his “gut-wrenching” part in Port Adelaide’s demise against West Coast.
Johnson, 20, rode enough emotional peaks and troughs to fill a career in Saturday’s after-the-siren, season-threatening defeat to West Coast.
Having kicked three goals opposed to Jeremy McGovern, Johnson watched the West Coast utility boot the winner.
“It was gut wrenching really, I was speechless after the game,” Johnson said.
“I definitely got some confidence out of the game but it is bitter sweet. Individual performance doesn’t mean a lot if you don’t get the win.”
Port Adelaide was leading by 15 points when Johnson was penalised for a block on West Coast defender Tom Cole with several minutes remaining at Adelaide Oval. Chad Wingard was surging to an open goal when the ball was taken off the mercurial forward and Cole awarded a free.
Johnson copped a $2000 fine from the match review panel but it was losing another thriller to the Eagles that hurt.
“Take responsibility from it, learn and get better,” is Johnson’s takeaway from the four point defeat.
“It felt exactly the same as last year to let that one slip it hurts a lot.”
Port’s plot for Johnson to run off 195cm, 100kg McGovern with the ball at ground level had worked until the 98-game star moved off the nine-game small-forward.
The final result was a lesson in how champion players and teams are never beaten for 185cm Johnson who followed Ollie Wines to Alberton from Echuca.
“I was definitely nervous playing on McGovern, such a good intercept marker,” I reckon it helped me a bit as he took me to the ball,” said Johnson who booted consecutive goals in the third quarter.
“At the start of the fourth quarter he went forward so I just played my normal forward role and dropped the tag on him and then you see him take that mark.”
Ken Hinkley’s advice that Port will be finetuned for September — if it makes it — after a torrid run home wasn’t lost on Johnson. The Power require wins against Collingwood and Essendon to guarantee a finals spot.
Johnson insists little has to change for Port to turn the tables today against Collingwood.
“We have had a lot of close losses. If we had won them we could have been securely in the eight,” said Johnson of Port who have fallen short against Hawthorn, Fremantle, Adelaide and West Coast by 19 points combined this season.
“If we can win these next two games and get in the eight it will be huge knowing where we came from.
“The comp is so even so you know you have to be on your best each week. Winning is the best feeling in the world and we want to do that.
“Collingwood are a very good team so if we don’t bring our A-game anything could happen.”
Wingard was Johnson’s idol growing up a Port supporter along the River Murray. The ultimate for Johnson would be figuring in finals alongside the dual All-Australian.
“I was star struck when I met Chad Wingard. He has been huge for my development, you see his forward craft, he is really talented, helps me to get better and play more games,” Johnson said.
“I am desperate to be in the AFL, play senior footy, that is what I wanted all year. Whatever the task is I have to get it done whether it is manic forward pressure, using my speed which are my strengths.”
Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.