Chris Johnson (footballer, born 1976) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chris Johnson |
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Johnson in 2010
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Christopher Lloyd Johnson | ||
| Date of birth | 30 May 1976 | ||
| Original team | Jacana / Northern U18 (TAC Cup) | ||
| Draft | 7th overall, 1993 Fitzroy |
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| Position(s) | Back pocket | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Christopher Lloyd Johnson (born 30 May 1976) is a famous former professional Australian rules footballer. He played in the Australian Football League (AFL) for many years.
Chris is well-known for his amazing career. He won three championships, called "premierships," with the Brisbane Lions. He was also chosen for the All-Australian team, which means he was one of the best players in the country. Chris even captained the Australian team in the International Rules Series. He is also part of the special Indigenous Team of the Century.
Chris was one of only eight players who moved to Brisbane when the Fitzroy team joined with the Brisbane Bears. This new team became the Brisbane Lions. Chris was the very last player from the old Fitzroy team to play in the AFL.
After he stopped playing professionally, Chris became a coach. He also played and coached for the Essendon District Football League team, Avondale Heights Football Club, from 2010 to 2012. His son, Lachlan Johnson, was later drafted to the Essendon Football Club in 2019. Today, Chris plays for his first junior club, Jacana.
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Early Life and Junior Football
Chris Johnson grew up in a suburb of Melbourne called Jacana. This is where he first started playing football. He played for the Northern Under 18 team. In 1993, his team won the Grand Final, which is the big championship game. Chris played a huge part in that win, kicking 7 goals!
Chris Johnson's AFL Career
Chris began his professional AFL journey with the Fitzroy team in 1994. He quickly showed how talented he was. In his first year, he was nominated for the 1994 AFL Rising Star award. This award celebrates the best young players in the league.
When Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears merged to form the Brisbane Lions, Chris was one of the few players who moved to the new team. This was a big change, but it led to some of his greatest successes.
Major Achievements with Brisbane
Chris achieved incredible things with the Brisbane Lions. He helped the team win three premierships in a row! These were in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Winning three championships in a row is a rare and amazing feat in AFL history.
He was also selected for the All-Australian team twice, in 2002 and 2004. This means he was recognized as one of the best players in the entire league during those years. Chris was also honored by being included in the Indigenous Team of the Century. This special team celebrates the greatest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players of all time.
Chris was known for his smart and calm playing style. He was great at running the ball out of defense. This helped his team move the ball forward and create scoring chances. In 2007, Chris was chosen as a co-captain for the Lions. He shared this important leadership role with other star players like Simon Black and Jonathan Brown.
On August 31, 2007, Chris announced that he would retire from playing football at the end of that season. He was the last player from the old Fitzroy team who was still playing in the AFL.
Coaching After Playing
After his successful playing career, Chris Johnson stayed involved in Australian rules football. He first worked as a "runner" for the Brisbane Lions. A runner delivers messages from the coaches to the players on the field during a game.
Then, Chris moved into coaching. In September 2007, he signed on as a full-time development coach for the Brisbane Lions. His job was to help the younger players improve their skills. He also helped them become leaders off the field. Later, he was promoted to an assistant coach under Michael Voss.
Chris also coached the AFL team at St Peters Lutheran College, a school in Brisbane. He led their opens team to two championship wins in 2007 and 2008. They won both times against Iona College. In 2008, his school team even played an exhibition match at the Gabba stadium before a big AFL game. This was to help promote the AFL's Indigenous Round.
In February 2009, Chris coached the Indigenous All-Stars team. He led them to a victory against the Adelaide Crows team in Darwin. In 2011, he was appointed as a coach for the Australian Institute of Sport/AFL Level One Academy. This role involved helping to train future football stars.
