Sydney Swans leave door open for Alex Johnson to play again despite suffering another ACL tear
ALEX Johnson and the Sydney Swans are set for an agonising heart-to-heart over whether the inspiring defender should commit to attempting another comeback or hang up the boots and announce his retirement.
Sydney
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sydney. Followed categories will be added to My News.
LUCKLESS Sydney defender Alex Johnson has been afforded time to consider his immediate future.
But the Swans have left the door ajar on a return to playing.
Johnson, 26, remained in Melbourne to spend time with family and friends and have a scan on his injured knee on Monday.
Sunday’s win over Melbourne was just Johnson’s second game since the victorious 2012 Grand Final after five knee reconstructions and a fight against an infection in his left knee.
ACL HEARTBREAK: JOHNSON SUFFERS ANOTHER KNEE INJURY
INJURIES: JOHNSON ON HOW HE SURVIVED SWANS ‘DUNGEON’
BAROMETER: ALL THE LATEST INJURY NEWS AT YOUR CLUB
This injury — in his “good” right knee — came in the first quarter as Johnson chased Demons forward Jesse Hogan.
Swans football boss Tom Harley said that his immediate playing future was “an obvious question” but was a decision that would not be rushed.
“It’s far too early to even contemplate that,” he said.
“I’m sure Alex has a view, and if I know Alex as well enough, he will throw himself into a rehab. But clearly we haven’t had that discussion and that will play out in the fullness in time.
“He’s got decisions to make, clearly. But we’ll take our time with that and respect as much as anything the process he’s going through at the moment. And he will be going through a whole heap of things.
“We’ll work our way through that in the next couple of weeks.”
Harley said there had been no conclusive evidence that Johnson was predisposed genetically or otherwise to the serious injury, but said it would be investigated.
“It would be a reasonable conclusion to say biomechanically there must be some challenges there for Alex,” he said on RSN.
RETURN: JOHNSON KEEN TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME
REPORT: SWANS BACK IN THE PREMIERSHIP RACE
“It’s inconclusive at this stage, because the rehab has certainly been focused on the knee that he’s had the five reconstructions on.
“He knew straight away, having gone through it five times previously he has a pretty good feel on what it feels like to do an ACL.
“We’ll case study all of that, clearly, once he’s back on deck and ready to throw himself back into another rehab.”
Harley lauded the premiership player’s ability to push his own heartbreak aside as he grappled with the reality that he had likely suffered a sixth ACL tear for the betterment of his teammates.
And he said he expected Johnson to succeed in any endeavour he threw himself into, football or otherwise.
“There’s really Alex and Jake Lloyd and Luke Parker in that mid-20s bracket (at Sydney), and he’s been robbed of his footy,” Harley said.
“I’ve got no doubt — had he had a good run at it, he would have been a really strong leader by title.
“He’ll be a success in whatever it is that he chooses to do. He’ll work out what he wants to do footy-wise, but he’s a pretty special person.”
Former teammate Ted Richards senses Johnson may be ready to apply his extraordinary mental strength and inspirational selflessness into other endeavours in life away from the football field.
Get the win boys... and carry him off!
— Ted Richards (@tedrichards25) August 12, 2018
Carry him off for no other reason than what he means to the fabric of the club #AFLDeesSwans https://t.co/XJvpPQD5Mq
Sydney great Paul Kelly said even if Johnson decided to play on, the Swans may not be able to throw their support and resources behind another comeback.
Richards tweeted shortly after the incident that the Swans should chair Johnson off the field at the MCG — not as a presumption that it was the end of the road, but simply to honour a player described by teammates as a “giver”.
“I thought for nothing else, let’s just celebrate AJ there and then and try and bring some light into his world,” said Richards.
“Because he’s still such an incredible example of what can be achieved.
“I haven’t spoken to him, but personally … he’s proven himself. He may take on the challenge again, but he may just very well say that he’s ready for a new challenge in life.
“He has proven himself and he’s achieved things that no other AFL player has been able to achieve before and it may not come with a trophy, but as a test of character as a human, that resilience is something that’s a huge achievement.
“I think it may come into his consideration the fact that there’s new challenges in life.”
Asked about whether the Swans would back Johnson in if he decided to dig in for another rehabilitation, Richards said it wasn’t a conversation that needed to be had until the dust had settled on the injury and the season.
Kelly, at the SCG on Monday for the Paul Kelly Cup, said there was no doubting the Swans’ undying love for Johnson — but that sometimes clubs need to make tough decisions.
“He hadn’t played for six years so obviously the footy club is always going to do the right thing by him,” Kelly said.
“But at the same time, a lot of resources and time and money and a spot on the list is being taken up. I suppose there’s a point where you’ve got to look at that.
“I know they’ll always do the right thing by the person but sometimes the person may not know. When you’re that motivated, sometimes you need to be told, ‘mate, it’s over.’
“But I don’t know where Alex goes. He’s been remarkable and amazing and who knows what he decides.
“The frustration of not being able to do what you want to do is just unbelievable. It doesn’t matter how hard you try and what you do, you still can’t get out there and it does your head in.
“Footy is tough.”
Kelly was in the sheds presenting Harry Cunningham his jersey for his 100th game when Johnson made his uplifting comeback at the SCG against Collingwood.
Then the lift Johnson’s selfless act of joining the team huddle on crutches at quarter time when he knew his career might be over, once again inspired the Swans to a huge victory over Melbourne.
Richards says the motivation will fuel Swans for the rest of the season.
“A football club is more than just individuals going out there and playing a role,” he said.
“There is a huge motivation there to really achieve something this year and do it for a mate and someone who has given so much to the footy club.”
Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >
Originally published as Sydney Swans leave door open for Alex Johnson to play again despite suffering another ACL tear
AFL rival’s bold plan to poach Swans star
While an AFL rival expects a star Swans midfielder to see out his contract at Sydney, the club says it will “certainly monitor the situation”.
Trading places? How the biggest AFL deals will get done
Almost every AFL club is poised to get busy this trade period. See who your club is looking at, who they should be chasing and how they will get their deals done in our ultimate guide.