Geelong great Steve Johnson on why he chose to coach Newtown & Chillwell, desire to break flag drought and new recruits

Steve Johnson had plenty of suitors after him, but one contender stood out. The Geelong great opens up on his move, reuniting with his former teammates and the recruits in his sights.

Steve Johnson is Newtown & Chillwell's new coach.

There were several Geelong league clubs clamouring for Steve Johnson’s signature, but Newtown & Chillwell was an obvious choice for the Cats great.

After former coach Damien McMahon and the club parted ways at the end of the GFNL season, the Eagles met with Johnson in Melbourne in mid-September.

Johnson had confirmed mid-year he would be stepping down from his post at Yarrawonga with an eye on moving back to Geelong.

A day after he presented Brisbane’s Will Ashcroft with his Norm Smith Medal on the dais at the MCG, Johnson met with Newtown & Chillwell a second time and officially signed with the club.

Johnson doesn’t muck around. A three-time premiership winner as a player, Johnson led Yarrawonga to its first flag in a decade in his very first year as coach of the pigeons.

He then fell just three points shy of a back-to-back premierships this year after a three-point loss to Wangaratta Rovers – just their second loss of the season.

Seve Johnson present Will Ashcroft with the Norm Smith Medal. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The ex-Geelong and GWS star said the challenge of ending the Eagles’ 39-year premiership drought was part of the reason why he chose them over other keen suitors.

His previous connection to Newtown & Chilllwell also contributed to his call.

“There was more than a couple of clubs who reached out but to be honest Newtown was really appealing because it is very central in Geelong, hopefully we will live somewhere close to the footy club,” Johnson said.

“It was probably just a really good fit for me and they haven’t had the success they would have liked in a long period of time at senior level and I’m a pretty competitive person and I like to win. So I hope that rubs off on the players and we can challenge as soon as possible.

“When I played footy at Geelong, I used to go watch Newtown probably more than any other team in the GFL. I actually know of quite a few people that are involved and still are involved in the footy club and families.

“But equally I think the fact that there is a good challenge there. They finished outside of the finals this year, after talking to quite a few people I believe they have got a pretty strong core group of players.”

The move to Newtown & Chillwell is an opportunity to be among some of his premiership teammates.

Flag Cats Cam Mooney, David Wojcinski, Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan all have children who don the red and black.

Wojcinski – who led the Eagles’ under-18 side to back-to-back premierships as coach in 2022-23 – was particularly rapt.

Cam Mooney, David Wojcinski, Andrew Mackie and Steve Johnson were all part of the 2009 premiership.

“As soon as I’d accepted the job and we’d come to an agreement, he was one of the first on the phone to say it is exciting and I’m joining a club that has some upside and he’d still love to be involved as well,” Johnson said.

“I’m quite close with a lot of those guys. It’s quite a good fit and it is exciting that the sons of those players are involved in the program.

“That’s exciting to be able to work with some of those kids as well which I have known since I was very young.”

WATCH THIS SPACE

When a big name like Johnson joins a local footy club, big name signings generally follow.

Stevie J’s phone has been running hot, and expect to see some key recruits announced in the coming weeks.

“I’d say watch this space, we’ve certainly got a few irons in the fire. It is certainly something since committing to the club I have had a lot of phone calls, as every club does at this time of year, to improve the list,” Johnson said.

“We’re talking to a number of players to help improve the list but right at the moment I think we are pretty close to having one player commit who will be an asset to the club and over the course of the next month or so we can announce a few more.”

Steve Johnson coaching at Yarrawonga. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Picture Yuri Kouzmin

But Johnson is also bullish on their current group and the youngsters coming up the ranks, with the Towners winning the past three under-18 premierships.

Down in Geelong with his family for the weekend, Johnson got the chance to introduce himself to his new charges at a meet and greet — and have a day of golf with some former Cats players, including retiring champion Tom Hawkins.

“There was a really good turnout, just to say g’day and put some face to some names and have a brief chat to them, more so introducing myself so that was really good,” Johnson said.

“So far we have had a lot of the current players recommit for next which is a promising sign and some younger players coming through that are excited about potentially having an opportunity to play senior footy next year. So I think the club is in a pretty good position.”

Originally published as Geelong great Steve Johnson on why he chose to coach Newtown & Chillwell, desire to break flag drought and new recruits