Knee victim Alex Johnson may need to look at state leagues to continue career
ALEX Johnson is on the hunt for another AFL club at which to continue his courageous career but Swans football boss Tom Harley says he may have to drop down a level to get another chance at it.
Sydney
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ALEX Johnson is on the hunt for another AFL club at which to continue his courageous career but Swans football boss Tom Harley says he may have to drop down a level to the VFL, SANFL, WAFL or NEAFL to get another chance at it.
Johnson said this week he was confident the reconstruction surgery on his “good” right knee would have him back early next year.
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“Alex will explore potential of playing in the AFL and if he can’t do that he will look at the next highest level in a bid to get back into the AFL,” Harley told The Saturday Telegraph.
“We spoke about an off field role as a substitute to playing. He made it really clear his ambition is to play at the highest level. It’s a personal decision for him.”
The surgery performed last month by Julian Feller was the same procedure as that done on Collingwood’s Tyson Goldsack, who ruptured his ACL in the JLT Series in February.
Goldsack hasn’t missed a beat since returning to action in the qualifying final against West Coast two weeks ago.
A conventional knee reconstruction would have put Johnson out for the entire 2019 season.
Harley said the Swans did everything they could to keep Johnson at the club by offering him an off-field role but his heart was set on continuing as a player.
“We wish him all the best with that and unfortunately for us, Alex and our fans it’s not going to be with us,” Harley said.
“We think he’s got skills outside playing football. It’s one of those things where you find something for Alex it’s not as specific as this is the job for you.
“We have had ongoing conversations about life and everything but if he has that single minded determination to have another go at it history suggests that is what he will do.”