GWS and Sydney in tug of war for Steve Johnson
GWS hasn’t given up on keeping Steve Johnson and has put an offer on the table to the mercurial forward as the Sydney Swans come hunting.
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GWS has put an offer on the table for Steve Johnson but not one that’s an out-and-out coaching position.
And the Sydney Swans are come hunting.
As Johnson prepares for a potential farewell blockbuster in front of his former Geelong faithful on Saturday night — which has a crucial top-two spot riding on it — the Giants are hoping the curtain isn’t coming down on his association in Western Sydney.
Reports are getting stronger that the Swans are set to pounce and secure Johnson as an assistant coach and help him on his path to becoming a senior AFL coach, while other Victorian teams are also understood to be circling.
GWS hasn’t given up on convincing Johnson to stay on at the club, although its offer is a broader one than just pure coaching, and would involve other off-field responsibilities.
The primary focus for Johnson and the Giants is on nailing down that maiden flag.
Johnson’s dodgy knee has been nursed through the entire season in a bid to have him on deck when the whips are cracking, and the AFL’s controversial week off leading into the finals will give renewed hope to the 33-year-old.
If results fall as expected, Johnson could be aiming up against his former Geelong Cats this week and then again in the first match of the finals.
GWS knows what an enormous influence Johnson has been since moving up from Victoria, particularly on the club’s forward line, and it would shape as a major blow to the Giants if Johnson was to take up an opportunity with their direct rivals
The Giants have been talking to Johnson about staying on when his playing career ends ever since they signed him, and football manager Wayne Campbell has confirmed the offer remains.
“We’re offering him a different option I reckon other than pure coaching so it’ll just depend on what he wants to do,” said Campbell.
“I can’t comment on what other clubs have put to him. But there is something on the table for him. He’ll make the best decision for what his career (holds) over the next 10-15 years.
“Without going into it too much, it would involve lots of different stuff to do with the club.
“When he first came up … if he didn’t play in the second year there was potentially a coaching element there, so that was discussed. But then he played the second year so that was off the table.
“But we’ve had discussions over six months or so as to what it would look like once we knew this year was going to be his last one playing. Discussions have been ongoing for a while.
“It’s obviously been well talked about how he’s really gelled with the forward line group down there. He’s a pretty smart player and sees the game pretty well and knows how to teach it and coach it so he’d be an asset to whatever he decides to do.”
Johnson must get through a main training session before he’s cleared to take on the Cats in Geelong in what effectively shapes as a shootout for second spot on the ladder and a first-week home final.
However, the pattern of his week-on-week-off play this season would suggest Johnson is in line to take on his former side.
Originally published as GWS and Sydney in tug of war for Steve Johnson
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