George Johnston
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m (moved George Johnston to George Johnstone: spell surname correctly) |
Revision as of 13:20, 22 April 2010
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George Johnstone was nicknamed "Blue" in typical Australian fashion due to his red hair. Johnston played when the Glenelg club was still very much struggling to be competitive against the other seven more established, sides in the League. Indeed, apart from the 1934 premiership, the highest the club finished during Johnston's playing career was sixth.
Johnston played 203 league games (the first Glenelg player to pass the 200 mark) during his career, won three best and fairest awards, and put in a best afield performance as the club broke its premiership duck against Port Adelaide in 1934. He also won the SANFL's highest individual honour - the Magarey Medal for the best and fairest player - in 1934.
Jeff Pash, himself a Magarey Medallist in 1939, described Johnston as "a phenomenal leaper for the ball ... he had the sort of (frightening) steel-spring strength about him that John Coleman had. All of him - and he was tall and strong - was up there for that ball."
Although smaller than most opposition ruckmen, in addition to his brilliant leap, he was extraordinarily powerful, an asset which served him well during interstate clashes with the VFL.
