Wayne Johnston (footballer)

Wayne Johnston
Personal information
Birth 19 December 1957 (1957-12-19) (age 54)
Recruited from Wandin North/Prahran
Playing career¹
Team(s)

Carlton (1979–1990) 209 games, 283 goals
¹ Statistics to end of 1991 season
Career highlights

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.[1] He was inducted into the Carlton Football Club Hall of Fame in 1991.[2]

Contents

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.[3]

After leaving Carlton, a heartbroken Johnston moved to Brisbane in 1993, 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.[4]

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.[5][6] 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, Marc, currently plays for Sandringham in the VFL.

References

  1. ^ "Wayne Johnston – The Dominator". Blueseum website. http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=WAYNE+JOHNSTON. Retrieved 2008-07-24. 
  2. ^ "Carlton Hall of Fame". Blueseum website. http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Carlton+Hall+of+Fame. Retrieved 2008-07-24. 
  3. ^ Reed, Ron (20 June 1999). "Football legend tells of brave son's tragic death". The Sunday Mail (Brisbane). 
  4. ^ "Ready to dominate". The Southern Star (Brisbane). 1 December 1999. 
  5. ^ Wilson, Caroline (21 March 2003). "He ran hard, but life and love have calmed the Dominator". The Age. 
  6. ^ Palmer, Scot (28 November 2004). "Dom up for big plunge". Sunday Herald Sun. 

External links