Jason Johannisen says former Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney had big influence

WESTERN Bulldogs speedster Jason Johannisen believes former coach Brendan McCartney deserves some credit for his side’s stunning Grand Final run.

Jason Johannisen runs off half-back for the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein

WESTERN Bulldogs speedster Jason Johannisen believes former coach Brendan McCartney deserves some credit for his side’s stunning Grand Final run.

Johannisen said the club’s transformation since the chaos of late 2014 had been “a bit surreal”.

“Time has gone so fast,” Johannisen told the Herald Sun.

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“Macca had a big influence on the young players because he did have a good game-style and he taught us a lot about contested ball, which we pride ourselves on.

“He had a big impact on that. The foundation was there and Bevo (Luke Beveridge) has put that extra touch and extra belief into the players that we can play some good footy.”

Johannisen, 23, was eight years old when his parents moved from Johannesberg to Perth “to give me and my sister a better opportunity”.

Brendan McCartney talks to his players. Picture: Sarah Reed

“Growing up in South Africa, all I knew was rugby, so that’s what I started playing in Perth as a junior,” Johannisen says.

“My cousin was playing footy at the time and they needed some extra numbers and that’s when I went across and played and fell in love with the game.”

Macca had a big influence on the young players because he did have a good game-style and he taught us a lot about contested ball.

Jason Johannisen

He was always blessed with speed, but was not a walk up to the AFL.

“I was in a couple of development squads but wasn’t really that good a player,” he said.

“My junior coach at the time had a relationship with East Fremantle and he got me over there to try out for the under 18s and the coach at the time, Steve Malaxos, was like, ‘Yeah, we believe you can play Colts’ ... and we ended up winning the under 18s Grand Final that year and I got rookie picked by the Western Bulldogs.”

For all his dash and dare, Johannisen is a self-confessed confidence player.

Jason Johannisen in action during the preliminary final. Picture: Michael Klein

“I like a lot of positive reinforcement,” he admits.

“Early in my career I struggled for self-belief, but at the minute I’m just sky-high and just believe I can play some good footy for the team and help them get a win.

“As soon as Bevo came in to our club his first thing was about building relationships with the players.

“It’s just the care he has for everyone and he knows how to get the best out of us.”

Johannisen polled six Brownlow votes in the first two games of this season, but feared his year was over when he severely ripped his hamstring against Carlton in Round 4.

“Initially they thought it was off the bone but there was just a hole in the tendon and we went to the surgeon and he told us to go with the conservative approach and not have surgery and I could come back in two months, and that’s what we did,” he said.

Current coach Luke Beveridge at Western Bulldogs training.

Beveridge rushed him straight back into the seniors and he kicked the match-winning goal with just seconds to go to pip Sydney in Round 15.

“JJ” lives alone at a house he’s built at Maidstone and spends his spare time buying clothes.

“Since I’ve moved to Melbourne I’ve just really got into the lifestyle of fashion,” he says.

“It was about two years ago really when I felt settled in. I just love the new trends.

“Instagram is probably the best tool for that. I follow heaps of trendy pages and it’s just something on the side that I do.

“We get paid monthly, so usually once a month I’ll have a big shop.”

How much would you spend?

“I wouldn’t tell you that ... but probably too much.”

He said mateship among the 42 listed Bulldogs players was a secret to their success.

“The care in this group is unbelievable,” Johannisen say.

“We are like a big second family and it’s just great to be a part of.

“We don’t just hang around at the footy club, we know everyone’s family outside of footy, too.”