North Queensland community teams turn out big at Bamaga
FORMER Brisbane defender Chris Johnson has seen a fair bit of Australia as an AFL player but not much of the rugged north of the State where he made his mark in football.
But that all changed recently with his first trip to Cape country in Far North Queensland in the back of a packed-out troop-carrier on some of the worst dirt track roads you'd ever care to drive on.
The AFL triple premiership winner was part of a contingent that drove from Cairns to the remote community Bamaga as special guest at a football carnival that bears his name, the Chris Johnson Cup.
The competition, along with the girls football Ivana Gibson Cup, is for teenagers 15 and under and doubles as selection trials for the Crusaders representative teams, which competes in the Queensland Country championships.
But more than just for football, the trip north provided the hard-working AFL Cape York crew, in partnership with the Indigenous Coordination Centre, a platform to talk about three key health and well-being programs -- "Be Strong, Be Heard", and "Violence No Way" dealing with the issue of violence in remote communities, and "Safe Hands", a message for dads on techniques for holding newborn babies.
But some of the awestruck youngsters had a hard time believing it really was Johnson in their midst.
"A couple of them didn't believe it was me; the body shape's changed a bit since I stopped playing," Johnson said.
"The main thing was to help with the message; to try to live healthy lives."
Plus the latest hot football tips. And perhaps a sharp eye on future prospects.
In the final of the boys division, after an even first half, Abergowrie College extended their one-goal lead over Djarragun College with six unanswered majors in the third term, with defender Harry Kepa's switch to the middle key for his side's lift.
It was close before that, with the lads from Djarragun leading by one point at quarter-time after goals from Dion Pitt and Eliza Jackonia. But in the end the boys from Abergowrie held on to win by 35 points, 12.10 (82) to 7.5 (47).
Best players for the winners were Harry, Scott Enosa, Frank Kepple, Hodrick Newman, and Kieran Johnson, Eddie Daniel and Patrick Atu from Djarragun.
"One kid there is massive, Kieren Johnson; he's no relation but ... he could be," Chris Johnson said.
"He plays in the Crusaders and was unlucky to miss out on the Queensland team for the national championships this year. He's been to the AIS and South Africa (with the Flying Boomerangs), so he's pretty talented."
Voss 'a very good operator'
JOHNSON will stay on as development and skill acquisitions coach with the Lions alongside former team-mate Michael Voss, who took over as coach after the resignation of Leigh Matthews last month.
Johnson isn't expecting Voss to depart too much from the basics of the Matthews gameplan which netted the club three AFL premierships from four grand finals.
"No, I don't think there will be much of a dramatic difference with Michael because he was coached under Leigh as well," Johnson said.
"It's still early days. There's been some changes at the club and you can only change (your style) so much with the playing group that we have, but I think there'll be a couple of tricks up his sleeve.
"He's a very good operator and very professional. He'll be doing his coaching in the same manner as Leigh so I'll just turn the ears on and soak it all in."
Corrie a plus for Magpies
NOTHING in football is ever guaranteed, as many of the AFL's delistees found out over the past fortnight. Even those offered up as 'trade bait' but stayed put would be thinking that.
Then there are those offered up and taken, like Anthony Corrie who went from Brisbane to Collingwood during trade week.
Johnson said the move away from Brisbane had come at the right time.
"I think it's a good thing for Anthony to start somewhere else, a fresh start," Johnson said.
"Towards the end of the season, with us having the same player types here, so in a sense he was out of favour. He'll benefit from this; he's a fantastic kid who can play the game. He's got more football ahead of him at a very good club in Collingwood.
"I think he'll cause headaches to opposition players in the years to come so for him it's another opportunity."
DARREN MONCRIEFF
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Last Modified on 25/10/2008 05:06