Wayne Johnson

Wayne Johnson first played competitive football at Norwood High School. He was recruited by the Sturt Football Club in 1963 and played in colts and thirds premiership teams in 1963 and 1964.

After a season of seconds football with Sturt, Wayne decided to spend more time concentrating on his studies and completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Adelaide University and opted to play for the Teachers College team coached by Howard Mutton. In 1967, Wayne captained the Adelaide University team and was selected to play in the combined amateur league team for the Australian carnival in Launceston. Kevin Griffiths, Peter Haines (South Adelaide), David Saywell (Central Districts) and Michael Dittmar (Port Adelaide) were members of this side spotted by league talent scouts. Having completed his degree, Wayne was posted to Mount Gambier Technical High School as an English teacher. From 1968 to 1970 he played for East Gambier under respected coaches Garry Window and Tracey Braidwood.

Keen to coach in his own right, Wayne was appointed captain coach of the Hatherleigh Football Club in 1971. That year Hatherleigh would go on to win their first ever Mid South East League premiership. Only twenty five years old at the time, Wayne was regarded as an astute tactician and a very good one on one coach. He saw that Hatherleigh needed to create more club spirit so with the help of selector Jack Kelly wrote the club song ‘The Mighty Flying Eagle’. Wayne’s preparation for the grand final was meticulous and nothing was left to chance. He even had the trainers carry different colour towels at various stages of the quarter so players knew how much time was remaining.

Transferring to Victor Harbor in 1972 Wayne coached Victor to its first flag for 15 years. Victor Harbor were impressed with Wayne’s professionalism and character. The season started slowly but once the players adapted to Wayne’s game plan, Victor won 10 of their last 11 minor round games. A minor hiccup in the second semi final followed by a return to form in the preliminary final which led to a 55 point win in the grand final. Not sure if it was a coincidence or not but the Victor Harbor boys sang their new club song with gusto on grand final night. Wayne topped off a great year by winning the Great Southern league’s 1972 Mail Medal.

Wayne continued as coach of Victor in 1973 but missed the season through injury in 1974 and filled the role as non playing coach. In 1975 Wayne joined the Goolwa Football Club as captain coach and the Magpies won their first premiership for 22 years. Wayne brought an expectation to Goolwa that saw them regularly contesting finals.

After a year off football in 1977 for an overseas study tour, Wayne returned to Goolwa in 1978 as a non playing coach. He ended his sixth season as coach of Goolwa in 1981 declaring that year’s team as the best he had coached.