NORM Smith medallist Jason Johannisen watched a replay of the Western Bulldogs’ historic Grand Final win for the first time last week and admitted there was one thing he’d change about the game – his ball use.
“My kicking and a couple of decisions still haunt me but I have pre-season to work on that,” Johannisen said.
“A couple of times I kicked to two-on-ones and just didn’t quite see the Sydney defender dropping off, pulling the trigger a bit early.
“Sometimes it’s a matter of just slowing down a little bit before I kick.”
Johannisen, 24 last month, took off a week after the Grand Final, heading overseas and missing a lot of the hype that went with the history-making moment.
But he returned home to Perth last week and sat down to watch the game.
“That’s when it really sunk in for me,” he said of the Bulldogs’ triumph.
Grand Final day was the moment the South African-born kid with a good story became an AFL legend as the least experienced (64 games) winner of the Norm Smith medal since Andrew McLeod in 1997.
And with such fame comes opportunity, “JJ” recently being appointed a Jetstar “Big Hero” – a Little Athletics program in which five kids across the country will each train under a mentor such as Johannisen (littlejetstars.com.au).
Johannisen’s breath-taking sprinting abilities were honed in Perth at Little Aths between the ages of 11-16 before Australian Rules became a genuine career option.
“Little Aths was, and is, a great platform to get to elite level in whatever sport you are aspiring to,” said Johannisen, who last summer did some learning of his own under the tutelage of former Australian national 100m champion Josh Ross.
“I feel honoured and privileged to be part of Jetstar’s program. I guess kids look up to some of us who are lucky enough to achieve something.
“I have rarely been caught holding the ball, in fact I’d like to say no-one has got me yet in terms of being run down from behind. But there are a few elite speed players, Lewis Jetta, Cyril Rioli, Bradley Hill, and at the Bulldogs’ Lin Jong would be right behind me over 100m.
“I reckon Lin could get me over 20m. I’m not so good over longer distances, a bit of a one-trick pony. I guess I can argue being able to sprint looks better.”
Coles Little Athletics Australia acknowledges and pays respect to all traditional custodians of the lands of which we work, run, jump and throw throughout Australia. We pay respect to elders both past, present and emerging.
We are committed to a positive future for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and to honor their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to this country and recognize the role and value of culture.
Little Athletics Australia
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