My Two Cents: South Australia’s sibling sports stars Isaac and Spencer Johnson

Isaac Johnson’s elevation to the West Adelaide captaincy has confirmed the Johnson boys as one of SA sports great sibling duos.

Forget sibling rivalry, South Australia’s high-flying Johnson boys are not interested in one-upmanship and instead proudly profess to being among each other’s greatest fans.

“Every time I see Spencer out on the park, on the big stage, I get goosebumps,’’ new West Adelaide SANFL captain Isaac Johnson said of older brother Spencer, who is one of Australian cricket’s fastest and most exciting bowlers.

“I’m so proud of him and what he’s achieving and I think he’s pretty pleased with how I’m going too.’’

The Johnsons have established themselves among SA’s best sporting siblings.

While lightning-quick left-armer Spencer has reached the summit in cricket, representing Australia at white-ball level and currently being in India preparing to play in the rich Indian Premier League for the first time, his younger brother Isaac has just put his name in lights by being named the 31st captain of the Bloods.

It is a notable achievement from a 26-year-old who has red and black running through his veins, having grown up in a West-supporting family and having first joined the club as a 10-year-old.

New West Adelaide captain Isaac Johnson (right) with his brother, Australian fast bowler Spencer Johnson, at Richmond Oval. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“Captaining West Adelaide means the world to me,’’ Isaac said on the eve of the new SANFL season.

“Being named captain of any team is an achievement but leading West means even more to me because my family has been involved in the club for so long.

“I started at the club when I was 10 in the under-13s and have been here for 16 years and both my brothers (Spencer and Oliver) and dad (Greg) have played here, so deep down I am pretty proud of myself and the journey I’ve taken – and sacrifices that I’ve made – to get to this position.’’

Greg played 18 league games and kicked 16 goals for the Bloods from 1986-89 while Oliver – a State under-18s player and one-time AFL draft prospect – played four league matches and booted two goals from 2015-17 before having his SANFL career derailed by injuries.

The 29-year-old, who finished equal-third in the reserves Magarey Medal in 2017, now plays for Adelaide Footy League club Goodwood Saints.

Like Spencer, Isaac – who has replaced the retired Kaiden Brand as Bloods skipper and will play his 50th game against the Eagles in Round 1 – has overcome a succession of serious injuries to reach the pinnacle of his career.

Isaac Johnson in action for West Adelaide against Glenelg. Picture: Sarah Reed

After giving up a promising cricket career himself – he was a State junior representative and, alongside Spencer, a member of SACA club West Torrens’ historic triple-premiership winning squad in 2016-17 – to pursue football, Isaac made his league debut in 2018 and won the Neil Kerley Medal as Bloods club champion in 2020.

But the hard-running midfielder/forward suffered a succession of bad injuries, including breaking a hand three times, and missed the 2022 season with a broken leg.

Injuries have gone hand-in-hand with the Johnson sporting journey.

Spencer’s cricket career was in jeopardy six years ago when, at age 22, he had ankle surgery to repair stress fractures and was told by his surgeon that the damage was so bad that he would be lucky to play again.

“You don’t really want to hear that at 22 years old,’’ said Spencer, now 28.

“And then after a second surgery, he said ‘you’ll be lucky to run again’.’’

Fortunately for Spencer, the surgeries were a success for the then Redbacks rookie-listed quick and the rest is history.

Spencer Johnson in action for the Redbacks. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Unused by the Adelaide Strikers, where he had been contracted but did not play, he was thrown a Big Bash League lifeline by the Brisbane Heat for BBL12 in 2022-23 and starred, leading to his selection for Australia in Twenty20 and One-Day Internationals.

Spencer has played five T20s and one ODI for the Aussies and was player of the final in this year’s BBL final, where the Heat defeated the Sydney Sixers.

He made his Redbacks first-class debut last season and has taken 21 wickets in five Sheffield Shield matches, with a career-best haul of 7-47 against Queensland.

“To come out the other side now, it makes everything feel worth it, but there were some tough times,’’ he said.

“It’s given me great perspective, knowing where I was and could have been to where I am now. My journey’s been different to most but it’s made me more resilient and helped make me who I am as a player and a person.’’

Spencer, who has been touted as a potential long-term replacement for veteran Aussie Test speedster Mitchell Starc, said he was thrilled that Isaac had been named West captain.

Isaac Johnson (left) celebrates a goal with West Adelaide teammate and now Crow Riley Thilthorpe against Sturt in 2020. Picture: Sarah Reed

Spencer Johnson (right) celebrates with Mitch Marsh after taking a wicket for Australia in its T20 win against the West Indies at Adelaide Oval in February. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

“I’m very proud of him,’’ he said.

“The club has meant a lot to our family and I’ve spent many winters watching Isaac and Oliver play at Richmond Oval, so to see Isaac come through and lead the club is very exciting.’’

The 195cm Spencer was a quality young footballer himself.

Despite being cut from West’s under-14s, he kicked a century of goals as a key forward for Flinders Park’s under-18s, including a whopping 15 in one game against Portland.

But cricket was his greatest love.

Last Friday, he flew to India for his first shot at the IPL, where he was one of six Aussies sold at auction, reaping a whopping $1.78 million with the Gujarat Titans.

“As kids the three of us Johnson boys were always pretty competitive but we’ve always wanted each other to do well in life and have supported each other along the way,’’ Spencer said.

“There’s been common ground with the injuries that we’ve had and if anything they’ve only brought us closer. We’ve all got each other’s best interests at heart, which is pretty cool.’’

NUMBERS GAME

24

Port Adelaide behinds against West Coast – its most in an AFL game.

8

Adelaide’s halftime points tally against Gold Coast – its equal-second lowest ever.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“We had our chances … but it makes it hard when you put a goal on the board at halftime.’’

Crows coach Matthew Nicks on the six-point loss to the Suns.

“I thought we played pretty dominant football, we probably didn’t get all the rewards we were hoping for, but you take a 50-point win every day of the week.’’

Power coach Ken Hinkley on the Round 1 win against the Eagles.

Originally published as My Two Cents: South Australia’s sibling sports stars Isaac and Spencer Johnson