Vodafone Brisbane Lions co-captain Chris Johnson has announced his retirement from AFL football after the 2007 season.
Johnson informed his Lions team mates of his decision to hang up the boots before training on Friday afternoon on the eve of the team’s Round 22 clash against
The 31 year-old will line up for his 264th and possibly his last senior match of a decorated 14 year career. He bows out with an impressive list of accolades including three premiership medals in 2001, 2002 and 2003, dual All Australian selection and a club captaincy to name just a few.
Johnson also leaves the game as the last active AFL player to have played for Fitzroy.
He was initially drafted to Fitzroy in 1993 where he made an immediate name for himself as a dangerous small forward. He led the club’s goal kicking in 1995 and finished fifth in Fitzroy’s best and fairest award in 1996.
Johnson was then drafted as one of the eight Fitzroy players initially chosen to be part of the inaugural Brisbane Lions team following the merger in 1996.
He transformed himself from a mercurial forward into the best small defender in the business in the late 1990s where he enjoyed the best seasons of his career. He twice earned All Australian honours in a back pocket in 2002 and 2004 and was desperately unlucky to miss out on a number of other occasions.
Johnson became one of the keys to the team’s premiership successes. His superb evasive and foot skills provided an important part of the Lions’ back line during its premiership years. His versatility allowed him to play on a variety of opponents and he was rarely beaten.
In 2005, Johnson was named in back pocket of the Indigenous Team of the Century and went on to captain the Indigenous All Stars at the end of 2005 and 2006. A natural leader, he was also given the honour of co-captaining
Johnson will forever be regarded as one of the game’s elite. He is a true reflection of the spirit of the merger, a man who is immensely proud of his Fitzroy roots but one who lives for today and the future, not the past.
He will appear with fellow retiree Chris Scott for the final time in front of his Gabba fans on Saturday night against the Cats in what is certain to be an emotional occasion.
CHRIS JOHNSON PLAYER HONOURS
Games: 263
Goals: 171
Finals: 19
Draft Details: Selection No.7 – 1993 National Draft
AFL Debut: Fitzroy v Essendon (OO) Round 2, 1994
Lions Premiership Player 2001, 2002, 2003
All Australian 2002, 2004
Lions Co-Captain 2007
Lions Club Champion Runner-Up 2005
Fitzroy Leading Goal Kicker 1995
Indigenous Team of the Century
Indigenous All Stars Captain 2005, 2006
Australian International Rule Series Co-Captain 2005
Lions Life Member
