Johnson from Dons to Port

[richo]

News just to hand


Johnson link to Carr deal
5:46:25 PM Wed 6 October, 2004
Paul Gough
Sportal

Essendon hardman Mark Johnson could be on his way to Port Adelaide as a part of a three way deal to enable Fremantle to bring Port Adelaide vice-captain Josh Carr back to his home state.

Fremantle football operations manager Steven Icke admitted on Wednesday that the Bombers were one club the Dockers had spoken to but he refused to discuss the specifics of any possible trade.

Carr, one of the key men behind Port's historic first AFL premiership triumph this year, wants to return to his native Western Australia to play alongside his brother Matthew at Fremantle.

However Port have shown a history of not accepting just any trade in return for the loss of one of their star players as they showed last year when they allowed Nick Stevens to leave Alberton for nothing after Stevens' preferred club Collingwood did not come up with a suitable trade deal for the star midfielder.

Instead Stevens was forced into the pre-season draft and ended up at Carlton.

Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams admitted at the start of trade week his club was again prepared to play hardball on Carr and his preference was to keep the tough midfielder.

However under a possible three-way deal with Essendon, Port would get Mark Johnson for Carr, who would then go to Fremantle, while the Bombers would get Fremantle youngster Ryley Dunn and the Dockers' first draft pick.

Dunn, who turns 19 on Thursday, has played just two games but was a top ten pick in last year's and is a highly-regarded midfielder who originally hails from Victoria.

Port would then get Johnson as a direct replacement for Carr with the two players both renowned for their fierce approach to the game.

But at 26, Johnson is two years older than Carr and has played 130 games compared to Carr's 105.

Both are already premiership players and both are also renowned for being able to play attacking and defensive roles.

And while Johnson enjoyed another consistent season at Windy Hill, he found himself in trouble with the club after becoming involved in an off-field altercation with Collingwood spearhead Chris Tarrant after the round 20 clash at the MCG.

Icke admitted on Wednesday that a three-way deal with Essendon was one scenario "that has come out from nowhere" and admitted the Dockers' number 11 draft pick could become pivotal as trade negotiations heat up before Friday's 2pm deadline.

"It's a pretty attractive pick because it’s one of the few active picks left at the top of the draft," he said.

"It could well be used by Essendon or it could also help a club like Geelong (which is desperately trying to secure another first round pick to enable them to do a trade with Richmond for star ruckman Brad Ottens)."

Icke said he was confident Fremantle would be able to do a deal to secure Carr but admitted it may well take until Friday's deadline.

"It's Wednesday so everyone is getting a little twitchy, but we are making some progress," he said.

[Johnson#26]

How well would Sheedy do from this deal? Johnson is a good, solid player. Nothing more. Riely Dunn (good pick last year) and a first rounder. They win all the way. Unbelieveable. Can we do it this way?

[themonk]

I have a feeling choco & sheedy will once gain stuff up our chnaces of landing anything decent.

[Joel]

Funnily enough, atleast the Dockers are actually willing to part with a player that could be very goodm ie. Dunn. Whereas, Geelong aren't. Pathetic Geelong!

[BBHS]

Geelong need to pull there head in and just give us one of those 4 players.

Generally thurs arvo there is lots of trades from memory. Then friday is like 10 to five in a nite club everyones looking to pick up anything,

[3rd degree]

Mark Johnson has been given Hardwick's old jumper, it stinks so much no other will player will wear it but the nostriliss angry little garden gnome!

[GreekLunatic]

sheedy said that if he trades MJ that they will kill him the fans it is also Mj is a dud

[MarkT]

I wonder if anything can be read into the comments about the fight with Tarrant. Essendon disciplined Johnson and Collingwood didn't discipline Tarrant. Essendon are now considering trading him. Was there more to this incident than has been let out, are Essendon stricter than we are or is it just part of the excuse for offloading him?

[3rd degree]

I think you're reading into it Mark T

[TheGaffer]

Sheedy is playing mind games once again and it sounds as if its another media beat up to get headlines because at the moment apart from Stenglein and Thompson the trading has been non existent.

Look at the history and you will see that none of the big trades actually happen they way they are rumoured, especially when the rumour makes it as a headline.

[Johnson#26]

Lets be hinest - almost all of Essendon's list is overrated. Mark Johnson is worth a second/third rounder at best. A gun from the 2003 draft plus a first rounder is just crazy. I hope the Shockers pull their heads in.

[MagpieGrant]

Freo still haven't learnt from the whole McPhee incident yet and not to deal with Sheedy.

[Cam]

Well Carr deal has gone through for draft picks. No need for the Bumscabs.

Like that

[d9 tank]

You little ripper.

That puts us back in the box seat in the Ottens saga doesn't it?

[Cam]

Mebbe, mebbe not.