Draft tug-of-war brewing between Brisbane Lions and Essendon over premiership player Chris Johnson’s son Lachlan

A draft tug-of-war is brewing between Brisbane and Essendon over the son of Lions premiership player Chris Johnson, who has pledged to let the rising star decide his own future.

Chris Johnson on the burst for Brisbane Lions during his playing days.

Brisbane legend Chris Johnson says his exciting son will decide upon his own football future as a tug of war develops between the Lions and Essendon.

Brisbane are furious Essendon could swoop on father-son Lachlan Johnson ahead of them despite him living outside the Bombers’ next generation academy zone in his draft-eligible year.

But triple premiership star Johnson yesterday defended his son’s right to consider the Bombers after being part of their academy for three years.

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He told the Herald Sun he would leave it up to his son to decide whether to nominate as a Brisbane father-son or Essendon indigenous next generation academy player.

The Johnsons moved from Brisbane to Westmeadows in 2010, with Calder Cannon Lachlan Johnson signed up as an Essendon academy member just before his 14th birthday.

Last year the Johnsons moved to Kew, with Lachlan this year moving to the Oakleigh Chargers to save himself a lengthy commute.

Rival clubs are filthy that another player has been taken out of the draft pool, with GWS boss David Matthews recently saying Essendon’s claims on him were “either an unintended consequence or complete rubbish”.

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They believe it is unfair Brisbane’s father-son rights don’t trump the link to Essendon, which can pick him despite him not still living in that zone.

Lachlan Johnson is an exciting flanker able to play forward or back, who recently amassed a 163-ranking point, 27-possession, 10-tackle performance against old side Calder.

But Johnson told the Herald Sun despite the rumblings of discontent about a system currently being reviewed by the AFL, Essendon had done nothing wrong.

Chris Johnson on the burst for Brisbane Lions during his playing days.

“To Essendon’s credit they saw Lachie play at the Calder Cannons and Adrian Dodoro rang me and said would you mind if we signed him up for the next generation academy,” he said.

“He has had consistent contact with Essendon and Heath Hocking who is their academy coach has being done some stuff with Lachie.

“Brisbane has been excellent as well. They have had him up there on three or four occasions and he trained with the senior group which was an outstanding experience.

“Last year we moved to Kew and travelling from Kew to Craigieburn was taking a toll mentally and with his schooling. He was doing an eight-hour day at school then another eight-hour day with footy.

“A few clubs around the place aren’t too happy with it, and it’s a bit unusual but that’s the way it goes.

“If he is good enough to get drafted, it’s his choice. I am not the one to put the jumper on for him.”

Chris Johnson’s son Lachlan (third from left) will have to decide between Brisbane or Essendon.

Brisbane hopes Johnson will play a game for their NEAFL team later this year but is at a clear disadvantage in trying to lure him north.

They believe Johnson’s status as of their greatest champions — a Brisbane Hall of Fame member and three-time flag member — should give them priority access.

Johnson is a diversity talent manager at Football Victoria and says the NGAs mean young players like his son have had extensive one-on-one coaching to help them turn into AFL players.