Walter Simon Johnson (1 September 1887 – 9 October 1962) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
| Wally Johnson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Walter Simon Johnson | ||
| Date of birth | 1 September 1887 | ||
| Place of birth | Collingwood, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 9 October 1962 (aged 75) | ||
| Place of death | Parkville, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Abbotsford | ||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Weight | 83 kg (183 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre half back | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1907–1916 | Fitzroy | 175 (83) | |
| 1919 | Fitzroy | 15 (0) | |
| Total | 190 (83) | ||
| Representative team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| 1914 | Victoria | 2 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1919. 2 State and international statistics correct as of 1914. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Family
editThe son of Thomas Henry Johnson (1866-1915),[1] and Eliza Caroline Johnson (1863-1949), née Thomas,[2][3] Walter Simon Johnson was born in Collingwood on 1 September 1887.[4]
Football
edit
The Herald, 21 September 1934.[5]
Having initially tried to play with Collingwood,[6] Johnson made his debut for Fitzroy in 1907 and finished the year as the club's joint best and fairest winner. He played most of his career at half back but played up forward for his first three seasons, topping Fitzroy's goal-kicking in 1908 with 27 goals.
A member of their premiership side in 1913, the following season Johnson represented Victoria at the Sydney Carnival. In 1916 he was appointed club captain and led the side to the premiership, defeating Carlton in the grand final. Fitzroy had actually finished the home and away season in last position; but, because of the war, only four teams were competing, and all qualified for the semi-finals.
For the next two years Johnson lived in the United Kingdom, where he worked in a munitions factory,[7] before returning to Australia for one last season in 1919.
After retiring as a Fitzroy player,[8] he was appointed captain-coach of the Ballarat Imperial Football Club in 1924.[9] He retired before the 1926 season commenced and took up umpiring.[10]
Death
editHe died at Parkville, Victoria on 9 October 1962.[11]
See also
editFootnotes
edit- ^ Deaths: Johnson, The Argus, (Tuesday, 2 November 1915), p.1; About People, The Age, (Tuesday, 2 November 1915), p.5.
- ^ Marriages: Johnson—Thomas, The (Melbourne) Leader, Saturday 26 April 1884), p.42.
- ^ Deaths: Johnson, The Argus, (Saturday, 16 July 1949), p.14.
- ^ Births: Johnson, The (Melbourne) Leader, (Saturday, 10 September 1887), p.42.
- ^ 'Enthusiast', "Best Ever in Victoria (Letter to the Editor)", The (Melbourne) Herald, (Saturday, 22 September 1934), p. 30.
- ^ "W. JOHNSON". The Australasian. Vol. CVII, no. 2, 783. Victoria, Australia. 2 August 1919. p. 26 (TOWN EDITION). Retrieved 25 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Presentation to Players, The Herald, (Monday, 6 November 1916), p.9; Champion Footballers Indulge in Other Sports: Wally Johnson, The Winner, (Wednesday, 15 November 1916), p.8.
- ^ Football, The Age, (Friday, 16 April 1920), p.12; 'Kickero', "Footballers Look Forward to a Brisk and Busy Season", The (Melbourne) Herald, (Friday, 16 April 1920), p.3.
- ^ Coach for Imperial, The Ballarat Star, (Monday, 14 April 1924), p.2; Wally Johnson as Coach, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Monday, 14 April 1924), p.2.
- ^ Men and Incidents in Ballarat Football, The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 21 April 1926), p.12.
- ^ Deaths: Johnson, The Age, (Thursday, 11 October 1962), p.17.
References
edit- Donald, Chris (2005). Fitzroy: For the Love of the Jumper. Pan Australia. pp. 46–48. ISBN 9781877029189.
- De Bolfo, Tony (14 March 2017). "200 Club push for 'Mulga', Baxter and Bob". Carlton Football Club.
External links
edit
- Wally Johnson's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Wally Johnson at AustralianFootball.com
- Find a Grave: Walter Simon Johnson.
- Boyles Football Photos: Wally Johnson.