Chris L. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Christopher Lloyd Johnson (born 30 May 1976) is a former professional Australian rules football
er.
His career highlights as an Australian Football League
player include three premierships with Brisbane, All-Australian selection, captain of the Australian International Rules team and inclusion in the Indigenous Team of the Century
.
Johnson was one of eight players to transfer to Brisbane when Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears
to form the Brisbane Lions
and became the last Fitzroy Lion to play in the AFL.
After retiring from playing professionally, Johnson started coaching and is playing and coaching Essendon District Football League
team Avondale Heights Football Club
for seasons 2010 and 2011.
in 1994.
He was one of eight players allowed to transfer to Brisbane when Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears
to form the Brisbane Lions. His career highlights include three premierships with Brisbane, All-Australian selection and inclusion in the Indigenous Team of the Century
.
Johnson is renowned for his creative play and composure running out of defence. Nevertheless, his 2007 preseason saw him playing as regularly in the forward line and the midfield as a defender, signalling the club's intention to use him as an impact player.
Johnson was appointed co-captain of the Lions in 2007, alongside Simon Black
, Luke Power
, Jonathan Brown, and Nigel Lappin
.
On Friday 31 August 2007, Johnson announced his retirement from Football at seasons end. Johnson was the last Fitzroy Lion to play in the AFL.
. Johnson started a brawl by close line tackling one of the Irish team. After this he was seen to search around for other players to strike. During the course of the brawl he punched four Irish players. He was suspended for five matches after pleading guilty to striking, ruling him out until the second Test in 2008.
He became a runner for the Brisbane Lions, appearing in Round 11 against Fremantle Dockers.
Then he shifted into coaching. On Friday 14 September 2007, Johnson signed on with the club as a full-time development coach for the Brisbane Lions. His job is to continue to assist in the development of the club's young playing list in the new position and to show off field leadership. He was promoted to assistant coach to Michael Voss
.
He coached Brisbane school and AFL powerhouse St Peters Lutheran College
for two years, posting a 10-0 record over his two year tenure as the head coach for the opens team. They captured the 2007 and 2008 AIC
AFL Premiership after defeating Iona College
in the Grand Final on both occasions, before the competition was abandoned due to an increase of in game fights. In 2008, the school defeated Cairns school Djarragun College at the Gabba, before the Lions-Saints game, in an exhibition match to promote the AFL's indegenous round.
In February 2009, Johnson coached the Indigenous All-Stars to victory against Adelaide in Darwin. Chris Johnson is the cousin of Samuel Johnson who has been appointed coach of EDFL club Avondale Heights Football Club
for season 2010 and 2011
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er.
His career highlights as an Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
player include three premierships with Brisbane, All-Australian selection, captain of the Australian International Rules team and inclusion in the Indigenous Team of the Century
Indigenous Team of the Century
The Indigenous Team of the Century was selected to recognise the role of Indigenous Australians in the sport. It was announced in 2005 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first senior game played by an indigenous player, Fitzroy's Joe Johnson...
.
Johnson was one of eight players to transfer to Brisbane when Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
to form the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
and became the last Fitzroy Lion to play in the AFL.
After retiring from playing professionally, Johnson started coaching and is playing and coaching Essendon District Football League
Essendon District Football League
The Essendon District Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the north-west suburbs of Melbourne, which was established in 1930.The EDFL consists of 24 senior clubs, 10 clubs in A Grade and 14 clubs in B Grade...
team Avondale Heights Football Club
Avondale Heights Football Club
The Avondale Heights Football Club is an Australian rules football club located 14 km north west of Melbourne in the suburb of Avondale Heights and was founded as a junior club in September 1965 where a small group of locals met at St James Church in Macey Street to establish a club for the...
for seasons 2010 and 2011.
AFL career
Johnson began his professional AFL career with FitzroyFitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
in 1994.
He was one of eight players allowed to transfer to Brisbane when Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
to form the Brisbane Lions. His career highlights include three premierships with Brisbane, All-Australian selection and inclusion in the Indigenous Team of the Century
Indigenous Team of the Century
The Indigenous Team of the Century was selected to recognise the role of Indigenous Australians in the sport. It was announced in 2005 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first senior game played by an indigenous player, Fitzroy's Joe Johnson...
.
Johnson is renowned for his creative play and composure running out of defence. Nevertheless, his 2007 preseason saw him playing as regularly in the forward line and the midfield as a defender, signalling the club's intention to use him as an impact player.
Johnson was appointed co-captain of the Lions in 2007, alongside Simon Black
Simon Black
Simon Black is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League.Black is a midfielder with a reputation for hard work and skill...
, Luke Power
Luke Power
Luke Power is an Australian rules footballer. He is currently contracted to play for Greater Western Sydney. He was a part of the Brisbane Lions's 2001, 2002, and 2003 premierships. He is known for his effective use of the ball disposals, rare mistakes and his deadly accurate left foot. Many AFL...
, Jonathan Brown, and Nigel Lappin
Nigel Lappin
Nigel Lappin is a former professional Australian rules footballer.Lappin was born in Corowa, New South Wales, but grew up in Chiltern, Victoria and was drafted to play for the Brisbane Bears in the Australian Football League in 1993, playing his first AFL game the following year...
.
On Friday 31 August 2007, Johnson announced his retirement from Football at seasons end. Johnson was the last Fitzroy Lion to play in the AFL.
International rules series 2005
In the 2005 International Rules series, Johnson was named co-captain along with Andrew McLeodAndrew McLeod
Andrew Luke McLeod is a former Australian rules footballer for the Adelaide Football Club. He is the games record holder for Adelaide, having played 340 games....
. Johnson started a brawl by close line tackling one of the Irish team. After this he was seen to search around for other players to strike. During the course of the brawl he punched four Irish players. He was suspended for five matches after pleading guilty to striking, ruling him out until the second Test in 2008.
Coaching career
Following his AFL career, he remained involved in the game.He became a runner for the Brisbane Lions, appearing in Round 11 against Fremantle Dockers.
Then he shifted into coaching. On Friday 14 September 2007, Johnson signed on with the club as a full-time development coach for the Brisbane Lions. His job is to continue to assist in the development of the club's young playing list in the new position and to show off field leadership. He was promoted to assistant coach to Michael Voss
Michael Voss
Michael Voss is the senior coach of the Brisbane Lions Australian Football League team and a former professional Australian rules footballer....
.
He coached Brisbane school and AFL powerhouse St Peters Lutheran College
St Peters Lutheran College
St Peters Lutheran College is an independent, co-educational, Lutheran, day and boarding school, situated on a campus in Indooroopilly, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
for two years, posting a 10-0 record over his two year tenure as the head coach for the opens team. They captured the 2007 and 2008 AIC
Associated Independent Colleges
The Associated Independent Colleges of Queensland are a group of eight independent schools in Queensland, Australia involved in a variety of sporting and cultural activities. AIC competition is only for male secondary students. Primary schools attached to AIC schools compete against their GPS...
AFL Premiership after defeating Iona College
Iona College (Queensland)
Iona College, is a private, Roman Catholic, day school for boys, located in Wynnum, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.Founded in 1958, the college currently caters for approximately 1,300 students from years 5 to 12, on a 25–hectare campus 16 km east of the Brisbane central business...
in the Grand Final on both occasions, before the competition was abandoned due to an increase of in game fights. In 2008, the school defeated Cairns school Djarragun College at the Gabba, before the Lions-Saints game, in an exhibition match to promote the AFL's indegenous round.
In February 2009, Johnson coached the Indigenous All-Stars to victory against Adelaide in Darwin. Chris Johnson is the cousin of Samuel Johnson who has been appointed coach of EDFL club Avondale Heights Football Club
Avondale Heights Football Club
The Avondale Heights Football Club is an Australian rules football club located 14 km north west of Melbourne in the suburb of Avondale Heights and was founded as a junior club in September 1965 where a small group of locals met at St James Church in Macey Street to establish a club for the...
for season 2010 and 2011