Jason Johannisen has been the most explosive runner off half back for the Western Bulldogs for a long while, but a few injuries have seen him lose a yard of pace. He can't keep doing wind sprints all day like Jarman Impey or use elite positioning to cover for his age like Jake Lloyd, so his place in the Dogs' best 22 is increasingly reliant on reputation. With Bailey Dale firmly ensconced in his old role, he generally starts deeper and uses guile and craft to play his role, hoping for another medal to add to his collection from the 2016 flag run. Best of luck, JJ!
Jason Johannisen has been the most explosive runner off half back for the Western Bulldogs for a long while, but a few injuries have seen him lose a yard of pace. He can't keep doing wind sprints all day like Jarman Impey or use elite positioning to cover for his age like Jake Lloyd, so his place in the Dogs' best 22 is increasingly reliant on reputation. With Bailey Dale firmly ensconced in his old role, he generally starts deeper and uses guile and craft to play his role, hoping for another medal to add to his collection from the 2016 flag run. Best of luck, JJ!
JJ runs like a rabbit
Former Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen split his time between half back and the wing in 2019, reverting to an old role forced upon him by too much tagging pressure. After dealing with an ankle injury, JJ returned in round 4 to rank as elite in kicks and uncontested possessions, producing his best statistical year since that of the premiership. As part of the leadership group, Johannisen's job security is as solid as it gets and it appears that the taggers are looking to others despite his stellar efficiency forward of centre. His retention of back eligibility makes him a valued commodity despite starting mostly on the centre line. Expect him to produce another good year and snap him up in middle rounds.
Get to the wing, Ja Jo
Marauding off a wing and across half back, Jason Johannisen is one of the most exciting speedsters in the game. Receiving greater opposition attention since his premiership year exploits, he split his time between wing and half back at 80% efficiency, managing a full 22 match season for the first time. Following off-season hip surgery, JJ suffered an ankle injury in February that will rule him out for at least the first two rounds. A match winner in waiting, the number 39 continues to battle for consistency. Most indicative of this battle was Johannisen’s round 19 and 20 performances, gathering nine disposals in the first before 42 in the next. Developments elsewhere on the list mean he may find his skills are of greater value on the wing. Due to his defensive eligibility, JJ should be worth a look in the middle third of the draft.
They're all chasin' Jason
The premiers of the previous year are always the most hunted, and for no one was this more obvious than Jason Johannisen who copped some quite alarming physical attention at times as the Dogs' most dangerous run-and-carry merchant off half back. Things got bad enough late last season that he went forward, where he enjoyed more freedom including four goals against the Dons. This showed up in his stats with his mark average cratering from 6.5 to three, plus three less disposals per game. The Bulldogs defence will get a fair bit more run with the retirements of Robert Murphy and Matthew Boyd, so theoretically Johannisen won't be the only HBF that oppo analysts will key in on. JJ is still the most damaging of the club's rebounding options off half back though, so the attention paid to him post the Tigers' pressure-driven flag won't let up. We know his ceiling, it's a matter of his role and how much the rest of the team's structure is built around freeing him up. The JLT may provide clues.
