""The pre-season has been fantastic actually, it’s been four months now since my reconstruction and probably my body is feeling better than it has in last few years."" Johnson said.
""Everything now seems to be working like it should be, Hopefully this year I can run more comfortably and tackle much better.""
The shoulder injury can be traced back to Round 10 last season when he dislocated it against Fremantle. Johnson however didn’t realise the severity of the injury until season’s end when the surgeon decided a full reconstruction was required. On top of this Johnson also required a clean up of an old knee problem.
However, the interruptions have only made Johnson more motivated and enthusiastic about football leading into Round 1.
""Its been exciting actually, because you can really start from scratch again, rather than dwell on ‘poor me I’ve had a shoulder reconstruction’, I can build on what I have got,"" Johnson said.
""Getting the strength back in the arm is really like starting a new weights program again. I have missed out on doing a lot of tackling and that sort of thing, but probably now I am as fit as I have ever been.""
""Fitness wise the shoulder surgery has help in some ways and I am sure that it won’t take me too long to catch up on the tackling."" Johnson believes.
The major first step in Johnson’s recovery will take place next Friday night when he hopes to return to the Bombers line up when the team travels to Bendigo.
And it is the first stage in what Johnson believes will be an exciting season.
""Our training has been a lot better, this year, a lot more spread out and a lot more time away from the club. So you enjoy the time you do have at the club and enjoy improving yourself. We have become a lot more honest with ourselves and we want to get better,"" he said.
""There is no doubt we will have a better year this year."" he said.
