Alex Johnson makes successful return as Sydney Swans win thriller over Collingwood

SWAN Alex Johnson hadn’t set foot on an AFL ground since the 2012 grand final. His return to footy’s biggest stage could not have played out any better as his side won a thriller over Collingwood.

NEIL CORDY

4 min read

August 4, 2018 - 10:19PM

Sydney's Alex Johnson celebrates the Swans’ win. Picture. Phil Hillyard

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All the pain. All the surgeries. All the lonely rehab sessions.

It was all worth it.

Alex Johnson let out a roar, 2136 days in the making, as he celebrated the Sydney Swans’ remarkable victory over Collingwood at the SCG.

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His last match at the top level was the 2012 grand final against Hawthorn. One of his opponents that day was Lance Franklin.

Johnson was thrilled to get back on the field after so much heartache.

Alex Johnson runs out for his first game since the 2012 Grand Final. Picture. Phil Hillyard

“Unbelievable,’’ Johnson said. “You know how hard I’ve worked for this. I’ve spent a lot of time in the dungeon in the depths of the SCG to get back here and I’m just rapt, absolutely rapt.

“I’m sure Mum’s crying right now. I’m rapt for them, (my parents) have worked as hard as me and they’ve been on this rollercoaster ride as well.’’

The 26-year-old was playing with 17 of his teammates for the first time at the top level.

Dane Rampe was one of those he had never lined up alongside. Rampe came into the team as Johnson’s replacement in 2013 and has racked up 133 games in the time Johnson has battled through five reconstructions and 13 surgeries.

There was plenty of emotion flowing Johnson’s way when he ran onto the SCG but there was no soft introduction for the agile defender with John Longmire lining up the 194cm Johnson on the 211cm giant Mason Cox.

Johnson lined up on Collingwood's Mason Cox. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Cox kicked a goal in the opening term but it wasn’t his fault as one of his teammates gave away the free kick which led to the major.

He didn’t have to wait long for his first touch when Rampe found his fellow defender with a nice pass just six minutes into the match.

Johnson moved the ball on quickly and cleanly and found a teammate with a nerve settling pass.

He had six possessions by the first change and eight by the long break. His confidence was growing with every touch at he added some big tackles and strong marking to his repertoire.

It was a return which warmed the hearts of all AFL fans and on first appearances looks to be the start of a genuine comeback.

Sydney's Dane Rampe and Alex Johnson celebrate the Swans’ two-point win. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Johnson’s first ruptured his ACL in a NAB Challenge match against the Gold Coast Suns in March 2013.

He had a traditional knee reconstruction a month later which failed before having a hybrid reconstruction in July. He suffered another ACL injury in his first game back in 2014 playing in the reserves.

It was then two and a half years before Johnson was able to run again.

Over this period he had another three reconstructive surgeries and another seven procedures including two bone grafts. Throughout most of this period he was on antibiotics to battle complications caused by infections.

In July last year he played his first game of football in three and a half years lining up in the Swans reserves in the NEAFL. He played out the rest of the season lining up in the losing NEAFL grand final against the Brisbane Lions reserves.

Sydney's Lance Franklin dominated in the thrilling win. Picture. Phil Hillyard

THE MATCH: BUDDY LEADS SWANS TO EPIC WIN

Hobbled superstar Lance Franklin’s six-goal haul and a stunning matchwinner from Tom McCartin have dragged Sydney back into the AFL’s top eight, with the Swans pipping Collingwood by two points at the SCG.

Franklin defied a restrictive heel injury, which has prevented him training this season, to boot three goals in the first quarter then ignite a third-quarter fightback.

The Swans triumphed 11.7 (73) to 10.11 (71) on Saturday night, when Darcy Moore became the latest victim in the Magpies’ injury-cursed season.

Collingwood's Travis Varcoe booted his team’s first three, and later put the Pies in front in the final term. Picture. Phil Hillyard

The Swans, down by 17 points at the major break and fearing a defeat that would all but ensure they miss finals for the first time under John Longmire, sparked to life and held a 18-point lead when Franklin slotted his sixth goal about 17 seconds into the final term.

The Magpies, who were without Moore for almost three quarters because of a suspected hamstring injury, rallied in style and reclaimed the lead when Travis Varcoe kicked his fourth goal of the night.

Franklin hit the post, for the third time in the low-scoring arm-wrestle, before McCartin somehow got boot to ball at the bottom of a pack to kick a scrubby goal with two minutes remaining.

Franklin booted 6.4 in a sublime forward display. Picture. Phil Hillyard

A frantic series of smothers, spoils, tackles and kicks under immense pressure followed, with Isaac Heeney holding a clutch mark in defence to defuse the visitors’ final foray forward.

“It was a tough game of football. We had to find a way to win the game, backs against the wall. I couldn’t be more proud of the boys,” Franklin told the Seven Network.

“I was beaten the last two times, convincingly. I wanted to bounce back, it’s not good when you’re not playing at your best. I had to get back to basics. “It’s going to be a tough three weeks but we’re excited by it.” Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy produced arguably the highlight of his stellar season, helping himself to 57 hit-outs while generating nine clearances, but couldn’t drag his side over the line.

Travis Varcoe lifts Taylor Adams from the turf after the thriller. Pic: AAP

With Franklin’s first opponent Moore unavailable, debutant Jack Madgen often had the job on the four-time Coleman medallist during the second half. Coach Nathan Buckley was already in the midst of an injury crisis. Especially in defence, where Lynden Dunn, Matthew Scharenberg, Ben Reid and Jeremy Howe were absent.

The Magpies, who face Brisbane, Port Adelaide and Fremantle in the final three rounds of the regular season, squandered a golden chance to bolster their bid for a coveted double chance come September.

— AAP