Why Matthew Johnson could be the solution to Fremantle’s lack of big-bodied midfielders

The success of Freo’s midfield can be intrinsically linked to the presence of a big-bodied midfielder. One young star has put his hand up to fill the void after the Dockers missed Hayden Young and Nat Fyfe against Geelong.

Matthew Johnson has declared that he is ready to take on a bigger role in Fremantle’s midfield after he was complicit in the Dockers’ Round 1 mauling against Geelong.

Despite only narrowly losing clearances 41-39, experts have argued that Fremantle made a mistake at the selection table by failing to pick another big-bodied midfielder.

Johnson was the only 190cm+ midfielder named to face the Cats. He attended 50 per cent of centre bounces, finishing with 27 disposals, 369 metres gained and three clearances.

Now in his fourth season at the top level, the 22-year-old was also noticeably more composed and used the ball at 70 per cent efficiency.

Johnson had a strong performance in round 1. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Andrew Brayshaw (85 per cent), Caleb Serong (71) and Nathan O’Driscoll (68) were the three most used midfielders at centre bounces against the Cats. With big-bodied pair Hayden Young (hamstring) still two weeks away and Nat Fyfe set to continue his build into 2025 via the WAFL, Johnson said he is willing to set the tone in their absence.

“I’m happy to play whatever role the coaching staff ask of me,” he said. “It looks a bit different week to week but whatever it looks like, I’m happy to fill a role for the team.

“We know the class of those two players. They’ve been instrumental in Freo’s success over a long period of time now. Fyfey got through a half of footy and when I spoke to him he said he felt really good.

“Youngy is obviously building. He had an outstanding year last year so we can’t wait to have him back in the side.”

The success of Fremantle’s midfield can be intrinsically linked to the presence of a big bull.

In 2022 when Will Brodie (190cm) and David Mundy (192cm) missed just two games between them on the way to Fremantle’s first finals campaign since 2015, the Dockers ranked third in clearance differential with a +2.8 average.

Fremantle also averaged 37.8 clearances a game to rank 7th in the AFL despite Fyfe playing just seven games.

In 2023 when the Dockers were bullied around the ball and finished 14th on the ladder, Fremantle ranked 8th in average clearances with 37.2 a game.

Nat Fyfe (R) remains sidelined. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

With Fyfe playing just nine games due to injury, the Dockers relied largely on Brayshaw, Serong and Jaeger O’Meara before injecting Young into the middle for the final month of the season. Fremantle finished the season with a -0.8 clearance differential, ranked 12th overall.

The following year with Young a full-time midfielder and Fyfe finally fit, the Dockers emerged as the best clearance differential team in the AFL. Fremantle’s +7.1 average fell just short of the Western Bulldogs +7.9 record set in 2022.

The club also ranked third for average clearances with 39.8 a game.

“We all complement each other as a midfield group,” Johnson said. “We’re very much a unit in there.

“Having people that can play different roles and work off each other … it’s always good to have a bit of variety.

“Big-bodied midfielders are few and far between in the AFL and we’ve got too very good ones in those two boys.”

Johnson endured a minor reality check in the lead-up to Round 1 when he lined up on the ‘B Team’ for Fremantle’s final intraclub of the pre-season in late February.

Hayden Young is expected to return soon. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“It’s always good to have competition for spots in any line group,” he said. “Our midfield group has a lot of depth and players who deserve to be playing AFL.

“It makes me work harder knowing that I’ve got hungry people beside me who are trying to crack into the AFL side. Being able to compete against the AFL side in the other team this pre-season was a good way to test myself.”

Johnson has trained exclusively as an inside midfielder this summer after previously showing his versatility on the wing. His goal for 2025 is to improve his intensity.

“Being a physical presence in there and bringing hunt and pressure,” he said. “That’s been a big focus for me the past few weeks and it’s held me in good stead.

“I want to try and generate offence through good pressure defensively.”

The Dockers will attempt to bounce back against Sydney on Sunday.

“We know that Sydney are a talented side and they’re going to be hungrier than ever to get four points on the board,” Johnson said. “We’re expecting them to bring their best.”

Originally published as Why Matthew Johnson could be the solution to Fremantle’s lack of big-bodied midfielders