MILESTONE MAN: Michael Johnson (left) will play his 150th AFL game against West Coast next week. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow
FREMANTLE defender Michael Johnson says he considers himself a leader at the Dockers, regardless of whether he returns to the leadership group before he retires.
Johnson will earn life membership of the club when he plays his 150th game in the season-opening Western Derby on Saturday.
The 28-year-old revived his career with an excellent season in Ross Lyon's first year in charge, relishing a permanent role as a rebounding defender, as he finished equal third with Matthew Pavlich in the Doig Medal.
Johnson, who was dumped from the leadership group in 2010, said he would love to be a part of it once more.
"I see myself as a leader around the club anyway," he said.
"Whether it's on-field, off field or away from the club I see myself as a leader, especially with the Indigenous players in my team.
"If my name pops up one year and they choose me to be a part of that leadership group, then I'll take it with two hands."
Johnson is eager to celebrate his milestone match with a win against the Eagles.
His 100th game was soured when Fremantle took a second-string side to play Hawthorn in Tasmania in August 2010 and the Dockers were flogged by 116 points.
"I was very happy to be drafted by an AFL club and it was a bonus just to play one game," he said.
Johnson said he was looking forward to taking his children Ameliah, 6, Levi, 4, and Nevaya, 10 months, onto the ground and running through the banner with them in front of a home crowd.
He would need to play for another three seasons to take the record for the most games played for Fremantle by an Indigenous player.
Recently-retired defender Antoni Grover played 202 matches for the club.
Johnson said he was confident Fremantle's defence would cope without Adam McPhee, who retired suddenly during the off-season.
Fellow defenders Grover, Greg Broughton and Dylan Roberton also left the Dockers but McPhee was the only player who played permanently in the backline last season.
"We've got plenty who can play a number of roles down back, so that gives us a bit of confidence," Johnson said.
"We know that Luke (McPharlin) and Zac (Dawson) will do their job and we can work around that. I have played the role a number of times against the Eagles against the third tall."
Forward Kepler Bradley was trialled in defence in the NAB Cup clash against the Western Bulldogs last weekend as the Dockers worry about West Coast's height up forward.
Coach Ross Lyon said having Bradley as a defensive option made the Dockers more flexible.
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