Joe Johnson was an Australian rules football

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 notable as he is recognised as being the first ever Indigenous Australian to play in the VFL/AFL

Australian Football League

The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...

.

Born near Newcastle, New South Wales

Newcastle, New South Wales

The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...

, Johnson was recruited from Victorian Football Association

Victorian Football League

The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...

 (VFA) side Northcote Football Club

Northcote Football Club

Northcote Football Club, nicknamed The Dragons, was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1908 until 1987. The club's colours were green and yellow and it was based in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote...

 and made his senior debut for Fitzroy Football Club

Fitzroy Football Club

The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...

 in Round One 1904 against Carlton. Initially playing as a half-back-flanker, Johnson played in back to back premiership teams in 1904 and 1905. In 1907, Johnson left Fitzroy for VFA side Brunswick

Brunswick Football Club

Brunswick Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1897 until 1990. They were originally nicknamed the Pottery Workers before being renamed the Magpies and were based in Brunswick, Victoria. The club wore black and white guernseys...

 as playing coach, playing in their inaugural premiership in 1909. In 1912 he returned to Northcote as playing coach until 1914.

Johnson has been lauded for his role in being the first known Aboriginal footballer, "leading the way" for other Aboriginal players to star in football.

Johnson's son Percy Johnson

Percy Johnson

Percy John Johnson is a former Australian rules footballer and coach, who played 13 state matches for Western Australia and 228 games in the WAFL...

, grandson Percy Cummings and great-grandsons Robert and Trent Cummings

Trent Cummings

Trent Cummings is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League ....

also played VFL/AFL football.