Blues seek goals wth Johnson
Within hours of Carlton selecting Blaine Johnson with pick No.43 in yesterday's rookie draft, the WA forward received a call from his new coach Mick Malthouse.
"It was a bit of a shock at first. I didn't really believe it was him," Johnson said.
"He actually seemed pretty chilled. Probably didn't want to scare me too early."
Rated a minor chance of being drafted this year, Johnson's selection proved that sometimes being able to kick goals can outweigh any perceived deficiencies.
Despite being moved further up the ground last season, Johnson was able to stand up and take responsibility for scoring on the big stage.
The 18-year-old finished the under-18 championships with 11 goals, WA's second-highest individual tally behind Cameron McCarthy.
Promoted to the South Fremantle reserves at the end of the season, he went on to win the best-on-ground medal in the club's reserves premiership with five goals.
But for some reason those performances failed to spark the interest of many AFL clubs and Johnson went into yesterday's rookie draft hopeful, but not confident, of being picked up.
"I thought I had maybe a 50-50 chance," the young Bulldog said.
"I didn't really get my hopes up.
"I was pretty shocked actually but it was a big relief at the same time."
A hard-leading medium forward who marks well and is capable of a long goal, Johnson could press for senior opportunities at a club which struggles for depth in the forward line.
He was the second WA under-18 forward granted a rookie-list opportunity yesterday after Charlie Cameron was selected by Adelaide at pick No.7.
The Swan Districts junior and former rugby player was one of the best-performed young players in the WAFL last season.
He will be given an opportunity to develop under fellow Crows recruit Eddie Betts next season.
