Ash Johnson Biography

Collingwood coach Craig McRae says the example Ash Johnson set during a 10-week stretch on the sidelines this year helped laid the foundation for his breakout season.

"He trained so hard and was a great role model for many others at our club about what to do when you're injured. He came back fitter and stronger, and look at what he's doing now. All the credit must go to him," McRae said.

"(In pre-season) I saw this young man grow enormously and find new boundaries of what he's capable of in terms of fitness levels."

After playing in three different states over seven years, Ash Johnson arrived in the AFL last year as a 23-year-old when he was snapped up in the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

The explosive goalkicker from Halls Creek in remote Western Australia has truly arrived in the past month, however, kicking 10 goals in four games and playing a match-winning role against Melbourne last Friday night.

For those who have coached Johnson along his path to the AFL, his recent rise has brought great satisfaction knowing the long road the 24-year-old has taken, starting with Claremont's WAFL colts team in 2014.

"I've followed him since, and it is a great journey. He played then like he does now, with a really good set of hands and long arms to mark the ball at a high point," Claremont coach Ross McQueen said.

"The difficult thing about football pathways though is that there's so much pressure on kids getting drafted in their 18th year.

"If they don't, a lot of them don't continue with their football, so I was rapt for Ash to get there. He's had to work hard, and to his credit he's done it his way."

Ash Johnson makes his AFL debut for Collingwood at Adelaide Oval with 11 disposals (6 kicks and 5 handballs), 2 marks, 4 tackles and 2 goals in a 5-point win over Adelaide.

Collingwood and Gold Coast are among clubs circling Ash Johnson, the half-brother of Adelaide forward Shane McAdam, ahead of next week's NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

Johnson has been living with McAdam this year in Adelaide and has booted 13 goals from six matches for the Double Blues in 2021.

Collingwood select Ash Johnson with pick No.3 in the 2021 Mid-Season Draft.