Australian Football

Originally from Leopold, Ted Johnson entered the VFL with South Melbourne in 1923 and rapidly developed into a top class, if occasionally wayward, key position forward. In nine years with South he played 136 senior games and bagged 385 goals, topping the club's goal kicking list for six consecutive seasons from 1923. Always highly regarded, Johnson (sometimes mis-spelt 'Johnston', as in the above image¹) played interstate football for the VFL on seven occasions, including matches at the 1924 Hobart and 1927 Melbourne carnivals. After leaving South Melbourne he was appointed as captain-coach of lowly VFA club Sandringham, for whom his 67 goals in 1933 remained a club record until the side emerged as an Association power after World War II.

Author - John Devaney