VFL: Frankston’s Matt Johnson kicking goals and gaining AFL interest

Matt Johnson did not come through the traditional football ‘pathway’. But through talent and tenacity he’s made his way onto the radar of AFL clubs at Frankston.

Matt Johnson kicked 47 goals for the Dolphins in 2024.

Matt Johnson’s story is about goals, those he kicks and those he wants to fulfil in football.

When the VFL announced its initial squad for the state match against the SANFL next week, the Frankston Dolphin was among the group of 43 players in contention to wear the Big V.

It was recognition for his fine 2024 season, when he topped the Dolphins’ goalkicking with 47 and was named in the VFL team of the year.

It was also another step in what Frankston coach Jackson Kornberg calls a “pretty cool journey’’ for the 187cm forward with the truest of boots.

Johnson is 24 and has taken a while to get going in the VFL.

Put some of that down to Covid. He made Casey’s list in 2020 but the season never heard a starting siren.

Only 10 rounds were played in 2021 and Casey didn’t call on Johnson.

He eventually got a debut in 2022, against Box Hill Hawks, his one and only appearance for the Demons. At local level that season, he kicked goals by the bag for Beaconsfield, including 12 in one game.

Matt Johnson takes a set-shot against Coburg at City Oval last year. Photo: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

Starved of senior chances with Melbourne-aligned Casey, Johnson chased them at stand-alone Frankston in 2023. He says the switch of clubs was “one of the best things I’ve ever done’’.

In 16 games for the Dolphins he kicked a team-high 30 goals, a breakthrough after fiddling on the fringes at Casey.

But there was a blemish too; he was dropped over what then-Frankston coach Danny Ryan saw as a paucity of forward pressure.

“I know you’d know about my lack of tackling in 2023,’’ Johnson says with a chuckle.

“Danny Ryan was big on it. Looking back, it was frustrating at the time. But I can see it now. You’ve got to bring more than just kicking goals, as valuable as they can be. It was an interesting one. It tested my character a little bit. I thought I was playing the role of hit-up forward and I found it difficult to hit up and then get back to goal and tackle as well.’’

Matt Johnson shows how it's done to extend Frankston's lead 🚀

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He set things right last year – aside from his 47 goals, he was No. 2 in the VFL for inside 50m tackles.

Kornberg watched Johnson “really get after the opposition’’ and “make himself a dual threat’’.

“He’s a very good shot for goal, very accurate, he kicks through the ball very well, and he’s one the quickest blokes in our team,’’ he says.

“With his speed, he can get off his man, get a fair bit of separation and take his marks. But he really gets after it at ground level too. As soon as it hits the deck, he’s quick to follow up.’’

Matt Johnson (middle) celebrates a goal for the Dollies in 2023. Photo: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

*****

Matt Johnson did not come through the football “pathway’’.

Instead, he found his own way.

After a few years with Narre South Lions juniors (where he played in a premiership with fellow Dolphin Corey Ellison), he joined Beaconsfield’s Under 15 team in 2015. Three years later he kicked 37 goals for its Under 18s in a premiership season.

Johnson tried out for the Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup list in his top-age year but was among the last players cut. He took it as a heavy blow.

“I was pretty disappointed about that, because I’ve always wanted to go to the highest level and I thought that was the natural way to do it,’’ he says. “It didn’t pan out.’’

He stayed at Beacy, joined the senior side in 2019 and booted 51 goals from 15 games.

Leigh McQuillen was coaching Beaconsfield at the time and says Johnson came through as an outstanding prospect.

“He got bigger and bigger in the shoulders and his hands are like a vice and his kicking is sensational,’’ he says.

“He’s just so coachable, such a nice kid and absorbs everything.’’

His first season at Beaconsfield was enough to gain the interest of the Casey Demons. It helped that his sister, Casey VFLW player Alicia Bertrand, put in a good word for him.

Johnson signed for the VFL, but it turned out that three years would elapse before he became a Dolphin and started to display his ability around the goals.

“The nature of the beast at an aligned club is that you’re at the peril of AFL selection,’’ he says of his time at Casey. “Obviously it grew pretty frustrating.’’

Matt Johnson came through as a classy goalkicker for Beaconsfield.

The change of clubs was a big move for him.

Johnson says he’s a “creature of comfort’’ and was “comfortable’’ at Casey – he knew the players, the program and it was only five minutes from his home. But he was “uncomfortable’’ at not being selected.

He saw more opportunities at Frankston, as did Casey teammate Josh Smith. They made the move together and they’re glad they did.

“It’s a pretty special place actually. I’ve been a part of quite a few footy clubs, but the feeling we’ve got down here at the moment is pretty cool,’’ he says.

“That’s credit to what ‘Jacko’ (Kornberg) has brought in in such a short time. But we’ve got a lot of good people involved.’’

Kornberg, in his second year at Kars St, knew little about Johnson, but coach and player have become close.

Kornberg says his forward is “process-orientated and goal-orientated’’.

“I love working with him. He’s dedicated Monday to Friday. A lot of players in the VFL are talented and perform on game-day. He puts in a lot of work during the week, preparing himself physically and mentally.’’

Beaconsfield senior coach Mick Fogarty hasn’t not been surprised by the rise of a player he calls a “star’’.

Beaconsfield senior coach “Mighty Mick’’ Fogarty. Photo: Josh Chadwick

He likes how Johnson “did it the hard way’’.

“He didn’t make Stingrays. He worked really hard, got to Casey and played one game. I said to him, ‘Mate, it’s time to look around and Frankston’s probably a good option for you’.

“He went there and he hasn’t looked back. He’s been enormous with that role he plays as a hit-up forward. He’s come such a long way and as I said, he did it all by himself. He worked so hard to be the best he could be and now he’s in the state squad. Awesome.’’

McQuillen has tracked Johnson since coaching him in 2019 and believes he can go to the next level.

“It would not surprise me one bit to see him on an AFL list, it really wouldn’t,’’ he says. “He’s got all the attributes and I still think he’s got more upside.’’

Originally published as VFL: Frankston’s Matt Johnson kicking goals and gaining AFL interest