Fans can expect four quarters of competitive football when Essendon take on the Bulldogs on Friday night according to Premiership player, Jason Johnson.
The Bomber veteran will make his long awaited return to the seniors this week and says the team will put in 100 percent, despite being without a number of key players.
“I think we will be competitive” Johnson said.
“I think the boys have been disappointed with the last fortnight so that is all you can really ask of the guys.
“In the last two weeks, we have gone away from the game plan that won us those six or seven wins. As long as the guys out there play their role then you know the team will benefit from that.
“I think we can do that on Friday and, although it will be an uphill battle, the Bulldogs have not set the world on fire either at the moment.
“We have only got two games left so, hopefully, the guys will respond to that and make the most of what is left of the season.”
Johnson will play his third game of senior football this season after missing around three months of football through injury.
Having played the past two weeks in the VFL, Johnson is confident he can has the fitness and football knowledge to play a key role through the Essendon midfield.
“I haven’t put any expectations or any added pressure on myself, I just want to enjoy it for what it is,” Johnson said.
“I hope to be able to contribute to the side like Knighta wants me to do.
“I am a little bit nervous because I haven’t played for so long but we went through the team tactics and rules and set-ups on Tuesday and I’m pretty confident that I have got my head around it.”
Given Essendon’s bad luck with injuries sidelining key senior players, Johnson will be one of only a handful of Bombers players who have played more than 100 AFL games.
Despite being one of the side’s more experienced midfielders this week, Johnson doesn’t feel any pressure associated with leading from the front.
“It is an opportunity for me to show my leadership,” he said.
“I guess with my personality, I tend to let other people take the lead if there are other people around but when those people aren’t around, I am quite prepared to step up.
“I am actually looking forward to that challenge and have been enjoying that role in the VFL for the past two weeks.
“It is something that I know I can do, it is just a matter of believing in myself to do that and knowing that the team needs me to do that.”
