Australian Football

Not only a deadly goal kicker, but a highly accomplished all round footballer as well, Rexie Johns somewhat surprisingly played only 134 league games for Port Adelaide in a 10-season career between 1954 and 1963. Those 134 games, however, netted him 451 goals at a per game average of 3.37, which, considering the era in which he played - the 1950s, decade of dour defence, lonely full forwards, and low scores - was highly respectable. Johns topped Port Adelaide’s goal kicking list on six occasions, and the SANFL’s on four, but at Alberton one sometimes got the impression that his contribution was not always unequivocally appreciated. His five interstate games for South Australia netted him 17 goals.

A member of Port Adelaide premiership teams in 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1962, Johns was a superb and stylish kick who boasted the sort of effortless elegance and poise that only ever seems to characterise left footers.

Author - John Devaney