Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson playing for Collingwood during the2006 AFL Season
Personal information
Full name	Ben Johnson
Born	(1981-04-05)5 April 1981 (age 44)
Original team	Northern Knights (TAC Cup)
Draft	#62,1999 National Draft,Collingwood
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	84 kg (185 lb)
Position	Midfielder / Defender
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2000–2013	Collingwood	235 (70)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of2013.
Career highlights
Collingwood premiership player2010 Jason McCartney Medal 2004 AFL Anzac Medal 2006 Bob Rose–Charlie Sutton Medal 2008
Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com

Ben Johnson (born 5 April 1981) is a former professionalAustralian rules football player who played for theCollingwood Football Club in theAustralian Football League (AFL).

Originally from the formerSt.Mary's, Johnson was snapped up late in the1999 AFL draft, no.62 overall. He started his career with a bang, kicking 3 goals on debut for theMagpies, however, he settled as most first-year players and struggled to play-out in consistent fashion, being dropped mid-season. He established himself as a tough running half-back who could play a key tagging role on the last line of defence. He could find the ball and his kicking that looked ordinary, was efficient.

Johnson became a key player during the 2002 and 2003 Grand Final seasons. He finished top 6 in thebest and fairest and was recognised as a top senior player wearingGavin Brown's number 26. He had over 300 disposals in both the seasons, and played all 25 games in 2003 following 23 games in 2002.

In 2004 however, he had his best year. He was a regular best player in the side, and despite the Magpies loss in form, his increased. He once again played all possible games, and he averaged over 17 touches. He finished equal 2nd in thebest and fairest behind winnerJames Clement by 5 votes, and also polled the mostBrownlow Medal votes for the club, with 10. In 2005 he had an interrupted season, with injury concerns after a concussion mid-season, and also a rumoured dispute with coachMick Malthouse. He only played 13 games, and ended a 77 consecutive games streak.

His 2006 season would be one of his best after a poor 2005, playing all 23 games, and providing great run out of the back line. His dash was recognised early during the year, as he would be at the top of the league in metres gained. Johnson would be awarded theANZAC Day Medal for being best on ground in the match againstEssendon, despite being called "Craig Johnson" by the announcer of the medallion. Johnson continued his form consistently through the season, giving him another second place in theCopeland Trophy and averaging more than 23 disposals. He also polled 11Brownlow Medal votes.

In Round 20, 2007, Johnson received a six match suspension for making forceful front-on contact withMelbourne'sDaniel Bell which ended his finals campaign.

His career was on the rocks in 2008 before rebounding to reach some of his best form in the latter stages of 2009 despite suffering a broken leg in the round three loss to Geelong.

Johnson enjoyed a strong 2010 season, culminating in becoming a member of Collingwood's 15th VFL/AFL Premiership. His finals series was particularly memorable, slotting the Magpies' seventh goal on the run, sidesteppingCameron Ling late in the first quarter of the 2010 Preliminary Final victory. He managed to nullify long-standing rivalStephen Milne in both the Grand Final and the Grand Final Replay. Johnson booted Collingwood's second goal of the Replay, and was the only remaining player fromMick Malthouse's first match as coach of Collingwood (round one, 2000, against Hawthorn).

Ben Johnson retired on 15 July 2013.^[1]

Following his retirement, at the beginning of 2014 Johnson presentedMarley Williams with his number 26 guernsey, reenactingGavin Brown's presentation of the guernsey to him in 2001.^[2]

In August 2006 Johnson was involved in a drunken brawl outside a hotel in Port Melbourne with then-teammateChris Tarrant. Both players were fined $5,000 by Collingwood. Johnson was later charged with recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault and appeared before a Magistrate in 2007 but avoided conviction due to his heavy involvement in community service with theTAC.

^[3]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toBen Johnson (footballer).

• Ben Johnson's profile on the official website of the Collingwood Football Club
• Ben Johnson's playing statistics from AFL Tables

• 1981 births
• Living people
• Collingwood Football Club players
• Collingwood Football Club premiership players
• Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
• Northern Knights players
• VFL/AFL premiership players

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from January 2024
• Use Australian English from March 2014
• All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English
• Pages using Wikidata property P3546
• Pages using Wikidata property P3547
• Commons category link from Wikidata