#20 Ash Johnson

[inxs88]

[inxs88]

Eagles have pick 36 and Port 37 as of the time of posting this. Reckon that's his market rate and if we are offered, take the pick and run!

[pietillidie]

Stick with the lad. He needs more time than others to find his feet, as with all of our mature-age recruits. He is alsothe kind of player who can tear a final apart in a single quarter because he's hard to match up on when he's going.

[3rd degree]

I still rate him , but needs to run ,chase and tackle more.

[K]

One of the worst games I've seen from a Pies player in years.

2 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle. Okay, that's bad...
But if you can't get the ball at least don't save a goal for the oppo.

He turned McCreery's goal into a point by touching it.

Should always shepherd the ball through on the goal line. But here even doing nothing woulda worked. The closest defender's hands were miles away.

You can watch it in the game replay from 1:52:40 on.

[pietillidie]

^Yeah, the lad wasn't in the right head space and looked a bit intimidated. How long ago was his last proper game before this? Keep working with him and building his confidence in himself, as we did with Jordy as he fought through things. Sometimes, just experiencing that disconnect and the way states of mind can creep up on you is crucial in finding ways to overcome that.

I hope we put that arm around him, to use Fly's expression. I might be off track, but I always sense a vulnerable kid who still goes within himself as a natural protective reflex. That can still happen even if he's had a strong pre-season physically.

[Jezza]

I think he'll be dropped this week and replaced by McInnes this week.
I worry about Ash in big games. He goes missing in crucial stages and struggles to impact the contest. I remember how quiet he was in the 2022 finals series after having a good run of form leading into it.

[The Black and White Lion]

Reckon Fly will give him a few chances in front of the ball. Reef has pretty much the same form but without a zero round game. I don’t know if the VFL played a scratch match etc. it’s hard to get any news on the VFL team.

At some point I think Ash is worth a run at half back as a third tall hybrid defender. I reckon that will knock the discipline into him. He has the athleticism and leap and playing behind the ball could help him. Just not sure if he has the desire and nous and stamina to read and stay in the play but I feel like he would be better down the ground than in front of the sticks.

[Skids]

25 games and really, done nothing against sides other than the cellar dwellers.
Starting to seriously doubt he will make it at AFL level. Time to give someone else a decent crack.

[LaurieHolden]

[joemamone@gmail.com]

I have not been a fan of AJ, however, before we let him go, I too would put him down back and see how he goes. He has all the athletic attributes to take over Howe's spot and maybe playing him back will force him to concentrate and be involved.

[nomadjack]

The way the ball was brought in to the forward line did him no favours but he needs to learn how to impact when things aren't delivered on a platter. Worth persevering with though. He's still a baby in terms of AFL experience.

[WhyPhilWhy?]

I'm not seeing it, but I really want him to prove me wrong.

[Charlie Oneeye]

Some players are handy when a team is playing well. And to play well, it's usually the best, highest paid players who get you there.


I think it is what Fly was saying too. But IMO, Johnson had some chances he should have taken, he was eating up those marks at training.
Its only round '0', usually players get a second chance to find form.

[Jezza]

Been given another chance for tomorrow's game, but he needs to show something otherwise he'll be out of the team soon enough.