Australian Football

AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game

 

Key Facts

Full name
Walter Johnson

Known as
Wally Johnson

Born
1 September 1887

Died
9 October 1962 (aged 75)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 245d
Last game: 32y 12d

Height and weight
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 83 kg

Senior clubs
Fitzroy

Jumper numbers
Fitzroy: 14, 10

Wally Johnson

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
FitzroyV/AFL1907-1916, 1919190830.4454%0
Total1907-1916, 1919190830.4454%0

AFL: 1,267th player to appear, 750th most games played, 1,296th most goals kickedFitzroy: 122nd player to appear, 14th most games played, 54th most goals kicked

Despite failing to make the grade in his initial stab at league football with Collingwood, Fitzroy's Wally Johnson went on to establish himself as one of the finest half backs in the game. So strong overhead that it was alleged that only Dave McNamara was better, Johnson also possessed great pace and anticipation, and had a leader's temperament. He was a key player for the Roys in the 1913 Grand Final win over St Kilda, and played even better as captain three years later in the upset victory over Carlton.

In all Johnson played 190 VFL games and kicked 83 goals for the Maroons between 1907 and 1916 as well as in 1919. In 1917-18 he worked in munitions manufacturing in the UK. At the outset of his career he played many games on the forward line, and was Fitzroy's top goal kicker in 1908 with 27 goals. He was a joint winner, with Barclay Bailes, of the club's best and fairest award in his debut season, and served as skipper in 1916 and 1919. Hugely respected and admired, Johnson represented the victorious VFL combination at the 1914 Sydney carnival.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.