Wayne Johnston (footballer)

Infobox afl player | firstname = Wayne
lastname = Johnston




birthdate = Birth date and age|df=yes|1957|12|19
birthplace =
originalteam =
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = Round 3, 1979
debutteam = Carlton
debutopponent = Essendon
debutstadium =
playingteams =

Carlton (1979-1990)

209 games, 283 goals
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = 1991
careerhighlights =

* Carlton Football Club Hall of Fame inductee, 1991
* Carlton Best and Fairest: 1983, 1986
* Carlton Captain: 1984-1985
* Premierships: 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987

Wayne "The Dominator" Johnston (born 19 December 1957) is a former Australian rules footballer. Johnston played 209 games and kicked 283 goals for the Carlton Football Club ("the Blues"), in a career spanning 1979-1990.cite web | url = http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=WAYNE+JOHNSTON | title = Wayne Johnston - The Dominator | accessdate=2008-07-24 | work = Blueseum website] He was inducted into the Carlton Football Club Hall of Fame in 1991.cite web | url = http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Carlton+Hall+of+Fame | title = Carlton Hall of Fame | accessdate=2008-07-24 | work = Blueseum website]

Playing career

After initially failing to gain a berth in the Carlton side, Johnston moved to VFA side Prahran, under coach Mick Erwin, and was part of their premiership winning team.

Under VFL zone laws in those days, in 1979 Johnston asked to be cleared to play for the Melbourne Football Club, but coach Alex Jesaulenko wanted to see him play before axing him. He debuted in round 3, playing against the Essendon "Bombers". Johnston impressed, and became a vital member of the 1979 premiership side. He could play either across the half-forward line or in the centre. He was the recipient of the Carlton Best and Fairest award, the John Nicholls Medal (at that time called the Robert Reynolds Trophy), first in 1983 and then in 1986, when he tied with Craig Bradley.

Johnston was made captain of the Blues from 1984-1985, and his presence was critical in high-pressure games and especially finals. He played in the Carlton premiership sides of 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1987.

Personal life

With his first wife, Debbie, Johnston has four surviving children. A fifth, Matt, died in 1999 from an asthma attack.cite news | last = Reed | first = Ron | date = 20 June 1999 | title = Football legend tells of brave son's tragic death | work = The Sunday Mail (Brisbane) | accessdate = 2008-07-24]

After leaving Carlton, a heartbroken Johnston moved to Brisbane in around 1991, where, among other jobs, he worked as a wharfie. He stayed connected with football, however, and for a time coached the Mt Gravatt "Vultures" in the AFL Queensland South-East Premier League. [cite news | date = 1 December 1999 | title = Ready to dominate | work = The Southern Star (Brisbane) | accessdate = 2008-07-24]

Following the breakup of his marriage, Johnston and family moved back to Melbourne; there he found a new love, actress Kate Kendall, and they married on 28 November 2004.cite news | last = Wilson | first = Caroline | date = 21 March 2003 | title = He ran hard, but life and love have calmed the Dominator | work = The Age | accessdate = 2008-07-24] cite news | last = Palmer | first = Scot | date = 28 November 2004 | title = Dom up for big plunge | work = Sunday Herald Sun | accessdate = 2008-07-24] Johnston returned to the AFL environment and served as a runner for two seasons for the Richmond "Tigers". His sons are also keen footballers. One of his sons, Mark, currently plays for Sandringham in the VFL.

References

External links

*AflRleague|ref=W/Wayne_Johnston.html