“I’ve proven to myself that I can play at this level,” in-form Coburg midfielder Lachie Johns recalls of what has been a season of two halves.
The goal-kicking on-baller, who was been outstanding since his senior debut, was plagued by an ankle injury sustained despairingly late in his first Coburg pre-season. As a result, Johns missed over half the year – despite two attempts to return sooner.
“It was pretty frustrating early,” he says. “I came off a really good pre-season. I hardly missed a session so I was feeling really fit and ready to go.”
“In the last practice match I did my ankle and it kept lingering for a fair while after that. I tried to come back in the Williamstown game [round 6] but it just wasn’t right and then against Port Melbourne [in round 7] I did it again pretty badly so I had a few more weeks off.”
Under the watchful eye of mentor Andrew Sturgess – who Johns is grateful to have worked closely with during his recovery – as well as experienced Lions Daniel Venditti and recently-retired Nick Carnell, the 22-year-old midfielder has taken his game to the next level since returning to full fitness.
“I had a bit of doubt when I hadn’t really been playing – I thought I might be out of my depth,” Johns admits.
“But in the second half of the year it was reinforced to me that I did make the right decision to have real crack at VFL footy.”
Johns played his junior football at Heathmont, but when the club folded, he moved to Eastern Football League club Vermont to play with friends from school. While playing under-18s, Johns received a mid-year invitation to join TAC Cup side Eastern Ranges.
“It was good. I had a few mates down there – including [Coburg midfielder] Jordy Williams. It was something I was keen on doing and I was pretty disappointed at the start of the year when I didn’t get a call to go there. So when I did get a call I was really excited.”
After returning to Vermont – where he played alongside Lions defender Rory Lehmann for a season – Johns shone at senior level. In 2014 he won the club best and fairest and was named on the wing in the EFL team of the year. But, even after such a strong season, Johns admits the jump to VFL football never crossed his mind.
“I guess but it wasn’t something I’d really thought about too much before Jason [De Vincentis] came up to me after a game at Vermont and introduced himself. He put the idea in my head that it was a good idea to go down.
“I then had a meeting with Craig Lees and Germo and I thought it was a good next step.
“I did hear a lot about the culture at Coburg – that it was a really friendly environment – but I decided that I liked the way Coburg was a standalone club, unlike others in the VFL. I saw more opportunity playing here than at other AFL-aligned clubs.
De Vincentis, who adds scouting to his duties as Coburg’s Digital Media Manager, instantly saw a lot he liked in Johns’ game.
“I think sometimes when you scout, you can have pre-conceived notions about what the ideal midfielder looks like, and I just thought Lachie fitted that mould beautifully,” De Vincentis remembers.
“Since overcoming the ankle injury, I think he’s been fantastic. He looks right at home, and has made an instant impact at VFL level and I don’t think he’s taken a backward step since his first game.”
Johns made his debut against Box Hill in round 14 and certainly hasn’t looked back. He booted 13 goals across the last five games of the season and was named in the best on every occasion, including an outstanding four-goal performance against Richmond to keep the Lions’ finals hopes alive.
“It was definitely a good feeling – it was sort of a breakthrough game for me in the first half there”
“Obviously it was good to kick the goals, even though I didn’t get as much of it as I’d had in other games, but it was great to get another win when our season was still alive. It was a pretty exciting time.”
Johns feels comfortable when used as a forward but believes he plays his best football through the midfield. No matter where he plays, he has a knack for hitting the scoreboard and is one of the club’s most reliable goal kickers.
“It’s always been something that I’ve been alright at and I guess I’ve always had a few shots on goal so that may have helped me in the long run,” Johns explains.
He will be hoping for more goals and a big impact this weekend when he lines up in the Lions’ Development League elimination final against Casey at North Port Oval on Sunday.
“I’m really excited. Any final is really good experience and I’m sure the level steps up again in finals so it’ll probably be like a senior game,” he says.
“I think with a few boys coming back and the way the twos are playing at the moment we could give it a real shake.”
