In defense of Brad Johnson

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In defense of Brad Johnson

By Angus Dearlove on Fri, 23/07.2010

Still people claim Johnson is a backstabber. It's all over the internet, everyone throwing their two cents in to defend the man they say "speaks his mind" and is good for the game.

Brad Johnson is made out to be the bad guy. I do not agree.

As the captain of the club, Johnson is the leader of the playing group, Aker's supervisor if you will.

If your supervisor at work caught you lying and bringing bad publicity to the organisation, what would you expect the supervisor to do?

Aker lied to the club about the article about gay footballers. The club signs off on his articles, which they did on this one. He edited it after and had it published, then blamed it on the newspaper. Then came out and backtracked, said the paper didn't edit it and it was published just as he had written it, but different to the one that was signed off by the club. One Strike.

Then while serving a penance in the VFL he publically criticised a player who was playing on him. This player is another AFL listed footballer and this has again brought negative publicity to the club. This, coupled with his attitude in the VFL where he tried to take control of the team, adds another Strike to his record.

Then he leaks the clubs selection news to Steve Price, a journalist, and Sam Newman who claimed he "overheard" the conversation. That was found out to be false. Aker told him directly. Three strikes.

Also on radio we have the "I'm in the Bulldogs best 5 players" comments. he refused to pull his head in after we'd asked him to be more careful on radio. He also implyed that he should have been selected, even when not called up for the Port Adelaide game. Four strikes.

Jason Akermanis was given chance after chance to improve himself and not bring negative attention to the club.

This rumoured book is another thing. As his captain, Johnson should have the right to say to Aker "No mate, wait till you are retired." Aker would never do that. I mean, he's already released a book about himself years ago while he was at the Lions. He shafted the Lions too.

Now Aker has come out on the footy show and acted like a complete child. His gesture to Campbell Rose as he left is indicative of that. Everyone will be sucked in because Sam Newman backed him up. But who the hell is Sam Newman? he is an ex-player there for comic relief. Has he ever coached at AFL level? Has he ever been in any administration capacity with a club or with the league? It was a bloody circus.

Akermanis, through his media whoring (lets face it, this is what it is), has come out looking like the innocent and unfairly treated worker. Johnson has since come out and tread the company line. Why? Because Brad Johnson is a footballer. Not a media personality. Brad Johnson knows how to work in a football club. Aker clearly doesn't.

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Angus Dearlove

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Fri, 07/23/2010 - 09:54 — Ozzie Kernahan

Thanks for bringing some

Thanks for bringing some balance to this situation. Very good read.

I'm sure Johno was doing what he thought was best for the club, it was messier than it should have been but that's the club's fault.

Smorgan happens to come across as one of the most insincere people I've ever witnessed, he can't come out of this smelling good.

Maybe the finger should be aimed at him rather than the playing group and coaching staff. From the Dog's point of view, it's better that the administration take the heat and let the others win games of footy.

Fri, 07/23/2010 - 11:09 — Jay Roth (not verified)

I can see your point in this

I can see your point in this article - however i just cannot see the claim off 'negative publicity for the Western Bulldogs' its a huge assumption that Aker copps the brunt of it. Everyone knows what he is likely pubclicly and it isn't a driect reflection on the club.

The 'leaking of comments' is a fair point yet needs to be really analysed before a decision like this is made.

Fri, 07/23/2010 - 22:47 — Mick Bourke (not verified)

Fact that Johnno needs

Fact that Johnno needs defending is the point. Why can't he or the club just come out plainly and simply state the exact reasons you have in your piece. Explain that they won't have negative publicity brought to the club and set a standard that they apply to all.

Also surley a quick word to say that the "loss of faith" was not based on a hypothetical question about a book that is not written. And perhaps another quick word that in the Bulldogs "open and honest" culture where "all" players are given 360 degree feedback that he did just simply confront aker about it and explained to him the exact reasons why they'd lost faith.

Agree Johnno deserves better than he's getting, but unless he addresses the elephant in the room (if the group think at the dogs allows it). As much as I agree with much of what you said about Aker what smells is the way the dogs are treating it. Expecting us to swallow that 40+ blokes unanimously decided at the exact same time that they had lost faith.

You'd think that Aker would be tarnished by being so obviously disloyal to the club. Everyone can see the lies and half-truths in some of Aker's comments, but equally we are seeing lies out of the club. Smorgan should just come clean. Say they've handled it poorly. Give the actual reasons he was sacked (they are hardly state secrets after all) and then allow the supporters to move foward with some faith restored. And also stop the Johno bashing for even if what Aker says is half right I don't think it paints him in a good light.

Fri, 07/23/2010 - 23:14 — the boy from brasil (not verified)

Really great read and

Really great read and extremely well written article. Says all there is to say about the situation and the most important points eg team values, leadership and what happens when a player becomes a loose cannon and breaks those values.

I am a doggies supporter and fully support what the Board, CEO, coaching staff and the players decided. After all, I am a Bulldogs supporter. And the club is always bigger and more everlasting than the individual.

Congratulations on an

Congratulations on an insightful and balanced analysis. In the long run Aker will be seen for who he really is and Brad Johnson and the club will have been vindicated. The tide of public opinion is already turning against Aker.

Now let's get on with playing great footy Bulldogs.

Sat, 07/24/2010 - 11:15 — jimi (not verified)

I remember when Brad Johnson

I remember when Brad Johnson wouldn't pass to Akermanis. It was a joke.

Steve Vizard interviewed Smorgon after the sacking and Smorgon said it wasn't about the gay article. Thats because Smorgon could see Vizard's trap. It was the Sun Herald that actually toned down the article - that was the change. The Western Bulldogs had actually OK'ed a more contentious version. But on the Bulldog website their 1st-June statement was that they would not have OK'ed the version that went to press. Doesn't make sense, does it.

On that issue, its the Western Bulldogs that are all over the shop. The Bulldog heirarchy were so frightened by the PC backlash they threw Akermanis under a bus.

Johnson has never denied Akermanis's claim about the vote on a book that as yet does not exist. He just said that wasn't the reason he was sacked. In that, Johnson is right. Akermanis's fate was sealed as soon as his form dropped and the gay article caused a furore. The Western Bulldogs leaders could have nipped that public debate in the bud by telling the politically correct commentators trying to accuse Akermanis of being a homophobe to go have a cold shower and stop trying to be so precious. The majority of Australians were thinking just that.

I always thought Akermanis was a bit of a clown and sometimes annoying. But he isn't as bad and is much more truthful than that lot.

The Western Bulldogs leaders are a joke. I feel sorry for their supporters. The team is led by a selfserving rabble that will never - and I repeat, never - win a premiership.

Tue, 07/27/2010 - 02:15 — Scragger (not verified)

Do you really think any or

Do you really think any or all of those things you meantioned are worth a strike.
The Western Bulldogs are not ASIO. The information Aker spoke of did not ruin the reputation of the club and I don't see how it can lose trust of the players.

Brad Johnson wants everyone there to be as bland as he is. Aker stands out.
That's why they stopped him doing the handstand, tried to stop him dying his hair and wanted him to stop speaking how he sees it.

Brad Johnson should no longer be the captain of our club. Weakest captain in history.

Wed, 12/21/2011 - 04:26 — haha55