Bob B. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Robert B. "Bob" Johnson (3 June 1935 – 2002) was an Australian rules football
er who played with Melbourne
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) during the 1950s. His father of the same name
also played for the club.
Johnson was a 198 cm ruckman
and as one of the tallest footballers to have played the game earned the nickname 'Big Bob'. He was also regularly rested up forward where he would use his body size to gain front position and take the regular mark for a set shot at goal. He averaged almost two goals a game during his career.
Johnson debuted for Melbourne at the age of 19 in 1954 and became part of the most successful era of the club's history. He went on to play in seven VFL Grand Finals for Melbourne, five of which they won. He also topped their goalkicking list in 1956 with 43 goals and 1961 with 36, the former in a premiership year.
His post VFL career was firstly spent at East Fremantle
where he served as captain-coach in their premiership side of 1965. He topped the league
's goalkicking list in Western Australia with 92 goals in 1966, short though, of his effort for the previous season when he managed 105 goals. He was a Western Australian representative at the 1966 Hobart Carnival
.
After a short stint with Subiaco
he returned to Victoria in 1970 where he joined Victorian Football Association club Oakleigh
. He had watched Oakleigh as a boy and the club had approached him as a 15 year old to join them but Johnson decided to join his father's old club. He broke a leg in his first game for the club which put him out for the remainder of that season. After becoming captain-coach of Oakleigh in 1971, he led them to the premiership in 1972, at the age of 37 and subsequently led them to Grand Final losses in 1973 and 1974 before retiring as coach. He came back to coach the club for one more season in 1976 where they finished at the bottom of the First Division ladder.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL) during the 1950s. His father of the same name
Bob C. Johnson
Robert Johnson was an Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the Victorian Football League . His son Bob B. Johnson followed in his footsteps and played for the club in the 1950s....
also played for the club.
Johnson was a 198 cm ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
and as one of the tallest footballers to have played the game earned the nickname 'Big Bob'. He was also regularly rested up forward where he would use his body size to gain front position and take the regular mark for a set shot at goal. He averaged almost two goals a game during his career.
Johnson debuted for Melbourne at the age of 19 in 1954 and became part of the most successful era of the club's history. He went on to play in seven VFL Grand Finals for Melbourne, five of which they won. He also topped their goalkicking list in 1956 with 43 goals and 1961 with 36, the former in a premiership year.
His post VFL career was firstly spent at East Fremantle
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
where he served as captain-coach in their premiership side of 1965. He topped the league
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
's goalkicking list in Western Australia with 92 goals in 1966, short though, of his effort for the previous season when he managed 105 goals. He was a Western Australian representative at the 1966 Hobart Carnival
1966 Hobart Carnival
The 1966 Hobart Carnival was the 16th edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition. It was the final time that Tasmania hosted a carnival....
.
After a short stint with Subiaco
Subiaco Football Club
The Subiaco Football Club, nicknamed the Lions, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . It was founded in 1896, and admitted to the WAFL in 1901, along with North Fremantle...
he returned to Victoria in 1970 where he joined Victorian Football Association club Oakleigh
Oakleigh Football Club
Oakleigh Football Club, nicknamed the Devils, was an Australian rules football club from Oakleigh which played in the VFA from 1929 until 1994...
. He had watched Oakleigh as a boy and the club had approached him as a 15 year old to join them but Johnson decided to join his father's old club. He broke a leg in his first game for the club which put him out for the remainder of that season. After becoming captain-coach of Oakleigh in 1971, he led them to the premiership in 1972, at the age of 37 and subsequently led them to Grand Final losses in 1973 and 1974 before retiring as coach. He came back to coach the club for one more season in 1976 where they finished at the bottom of the First Division ladder.