Len Johnson
Essendon and North Melbourne
AFL career
69 games88 goals
- Debut
- R1 1929 v CAR27 Apr 1929
- Most recent
- R15 1933 v GEE5 Aug 1933
Stats
Bio
Overcoming a tragic childhood spent at the St Vincent de Paul Orphanage, Len Johnson emerged as a naturally gifted athlete and professional runner before being recruited to Essendon from Ascot Vale CYMS. A pacy, left-footed utility capable of playing as a rover or full-forward, he made an electric start to his VFL career in 1929, topping the club's goalkicking with 40 majors despite missing the final five games with a broken arm. Johnson's highlight reel included a nine-goal haul against Footscray in just his second league match, showcasing his deadly accuracy and strong marking ability. He crossed to North Melbourne midway through the 1933 season to play out the final five games of his VFL career before moving into country coaching. Johnson later enlisted for service in World War II and was tragically killed in Malaya in 1942 when a wall collapsed during demolition work; his legacy is honored today through the Johnson-Parker Anzac Day Medal awarded in the Essendon District Football League.
Profile
- Born
- 06 July 1908
- Died
- 24 Jan 1942 (aged 33y 202d)
- Birthplace
- Elsternwick, VIC
- Deathplace
- Malaya
- Height
- 183 cm
- Weight
- 84 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionOvercoming a tragic childhood spent at the St Vincent de Paul Orphanage, Len Johnson emerged as a naturally gifted athlete and professional runner before being recruited to Essendon from Ascot Vale CYMS. A pacy, left-footed utility capable of playing as a rover or full-forward, he made an electric start to his VFL career in 1929, topping the club's goalkicking with 40 majors despite missing the final five games with a broken arm. Johnson's highlight reel included a nine-goal haul against Footscray in just his second league match, showcasing his deadly accuracy and strong marking ability. He crossed to North Melbourne midway through the 1933 season to play out the final five games of his VFL career before moving into country coaching. Johnson later enlisted for service in World War II and was tragically killed in Malaya in 1942 when a wall collapsed during demolition work; his legacy is honored today through the Johnson-Parker Anzac Day Medal awarded in the Essendon District Football League.