Luckless Swan deserves recognition for his sacrifice

A quick look at the list of Robert Rose Award winners is a who's who of hard-nosed AFL footballers. Alex Johnson deserves to be on that list.

Alex Johnson's run of injuries continued. Picture: JULIAN SMITH

A QUICK look at the list of Robert Rose Award winners, presented by the AFL Player's Association for the most courageous player each season, is a quintessential who's who of hard-nosed footballers who would prefer serious injury to being seen backing out of a contest.

Household AFL names like Rory Sloane, Joel Selwood, Jonathan Brown and Luke Hodge have all received the honour in recent seasons and all were deserving winners.

Brown in particular was a shoe-in for the 2011 honour, following a gruesome collision with teammate Mitch Clark which had Brisbane club doctor Adam McNicol fearing for the star Lion's life.

Brown retired with 15 plates and 64 screws in his face after further head knocks eventually forced him out of the game in 2014.

The three-time Robert Rose Award winner is far from the only player to have their career jeopardised through injury.

Active players like Brett Deledio (GWS) and Jamie Elliott (Collingwood) have been cruelled by repeated setbacks over multiple seasons.

But there is one man who has had to endure more than any athlete should. And after the events of the weekend, he deserves to be the 2018 Robert Rose Award winner.

Swans defender Alex Johnson made his AFL debut in round three, 2011.

He held his position en-route to the Swans' premiership that season, and the following year was named the club's 2012 Rising Star.

An ACL injury during the 2013 pre-season was the start of Johnson's six years of torment.

After 2136 days away from the bright lights of the AFL, Johnson returned on August 4 from 12 - yes 12 - knee surgeries to play his first game since the 2012 grand final

After the second ACL setback, you may have forgiven the 26-year-old for hanging the boots up.

But he persevered through six years of what would have been physical and emotional hell.

On Saturday, in just his second game back, "AJ" went down with what the Swans have now confirmed as yet another ACL injury, this time to his 'good' knee.

Despite the Swans defeating Melbourne in what was a big upset at the MCG, coach John Longmire said it was something of a hollow feeling in the dressing rooms after the match.

Swan Nic Newman was in tears as he walked off the field. He did so comforted by his good friend and teammate, Johnson.

The luckless defender had every right to wallow in self pity on the bench. Instead he was at every huddle, encouraging his teammates to an unlikely victory.

If that is not courage, I do not know what is.

Johnson may not be the household name the likes of Brown, Selwood and Hodge are.

But his perseverance and selflessness are typical of a true role model.

There may be other deserving recipients this season, but in my eyes none more-so than "AJ".

Originally published as Luckless Swan deserves recognition for his sacrifice