Alex Johnson makes football comeback from sixth knee injury with Northern Blues

Alex Johnson made an inspiring return from a sixth knee reconstruction for Northern Blues on Sunday, making his VFL debut in the club’s win over Coburg.

Alex Johnson (centre) runs out for his first game with Northern Blues. Picture: David Crosling.

Alex Johnson was back in the red and white on Sunday.

Only this time it wasn’t at Sydney, where he was a premiership player in 2012.

Johnson was making his return from a sixth knee reconstruction for Northern Blues, which were wearing the traditional red and white Preston Bullants strip in the VFL clash against

Coburg at Preston City Oval.

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It was the 27-year-old’s first game since he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Melbourne last year.

Johnson had spent nearly six years on the sidelines after undergoing five knee

reconstructions on his left knee since the 2012 grand final.

Alex Johnson battles for possession during his VFL comeback from a sixth knee reconstruction. Picture: David Crosling.

Wednesday will mark 10 months since his most recent setback.

He was delisted by Sydney in September.

Johnson said he always wanted to return to football.

“Initially after I did it against Melbourne, you sort of think, ‘maybe this isn’t the game for you’,” he said.

“It’s the first injury I’ve had to my right knee and my left is as strong as ever.

“I’m pretty fit, I feel healthy going forward and hopefully I get 10, 11 games in and see where we go from there.”

Johnson played about 80 per cent game time and had 13 disposals and seven marks in

Northern’s 17-point win, again underlined his resilience after facing so much adversity during his 47-game career with Sydney.

Alex Johnson (centre) runs out for his first game with Northern Blues. Picture: David Crosling.

“It was just good to get out there and play footy again,” he said.

“I’ve trained for six, seven months solidly and just to get out there again and play, have a win, was also good.”

Johnson said he wanted to continue his AFL career.

“I feel like I’ve been starved of the opportunity to play footy at the highest level especially, but just to play footy in general,” he said.

“I’m not going to put any limits on it, I’ll see how we go over the next three months and see where we can take it.”

Midfielder Matthew Kennedy was Northern’s leading disposal winner with 30 possessions,

while Hugh Goddard had 22 touches and 12 marks.

Alex Johnson gathers possession on his VFL debut for Northern Blues. Picture: David Crosling.

STORY OF RESILIENCE

March 2013: Tears ACL in pre-season clash.

July 2013: Undergoes a second knee reconstruction after it’s revealed the initial operation was unsuccessful. Opts for the LARS procedure.

March 2014: Ruptures his ACL for a third time 10 minutes into his return match. Opts for the LARS procedure and undergoes surgery in July.

November 2015: Undergoes a fourth knee reconstruction after the LARS graft had earlier become infected.

December 2015: The knee again becomes infected under has a knee reconstruction in June the following year.

August 2018: Plays his first AFL game in 2136 days and gets through unscathed, but ruptures the ACL in his right knee the next week.

June 2019: Makes his return through the VFL, less than 10 months since undergoing his sixth knee reconstruction.