Steve Johnson has joined the ever-growing class of 2017 retirees, which is sure to be one of the greatest classes of all time.
Johnson joined Jobe Watson, Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Nick Riewoldt, Scott Thompson, Matt Priddis and Matthew Boyd – to name a few.
This group of players, who we will call the Class of 2017, have amassed just every award the game has to offer:
Who is to say that the awards outlined above cannot be added to yet. St Kilda’s Nick Riewoldt who fell agonisingly short of the premiership in 2009 and 2010 has a fighting chance to go out on top, Johnson’s Giants look like they are finding form at the right time of the season, and Boyd and Thompson’s sides could both push deep into September.
[latest_videos_strip category=”afl” name=”AFL”]
There are also some great storylines in these retirements.
It is fitting that Mitchell, Hodge and Johnson finish their careers in the same season.
Mitchell of course was Hawthorn’s captain in their 2008 premiership year, before Hodge took over and led Hawthorn to their three-peat in 2013, 2014 and 2015. As for Johnson, he was part of the enthralling rivalry that existed between Hawthorn and Geelong for much of the 2000s.
And all three were members of the 2001 ‘superdraft’.
Johnson mentioned in his retirement that finishing up in the same year as many of his former rivals was something special that they would share at the end of the year.
2016 saw its fair share of champions bow out, including Jimmy Bartel, Dane Swan, Matthew Pavlich, Brent Harvey, Corey Enright and Nick Dal Santo. It’s a class that again includes club champions, Brownlow medalists, premiership players and Norm Smith medalists.
However, the class that is forever referred to as possibly the greatest of all time is the Class of 2007. Who could forget that year? It included James Hird, Nathan Buckley, Mark Ricciuto, Anothony Koutoufides, Chris Grant and Glenn Archer.
That year was very much the end of a generation – when those players left, it was the likes of Hodge, Mitchell, Riewoldt and Johnson who took over the mantle as the game’s elite.
Now is in many ways a mirror of 2007, with the Class of 2017 passing the mantle on to the likes of Dustin Martin, Patrick Dangerfield, Nat Fyfe and Josh Kelly.
Who knows, in five to ten years’ time, when those guys start to call time on their careers, we might be having the same discussion.
Gecko
Guest
Ah those were the days. Cloke and Jesse White in the Collingwood forward line together, causing complete exasperation.
Chancho
Roar Rookie
Not even close... when I hang up the boots is when it'll be the greatest retirement class of all
The Original Buzz
Guest
That is an impressive list.
The Original Buzz
Guest
The number of games would be interesting between 2007, 2016 and 2017 retirees. Add Dennis Armfield to the list for this year as well, he was a good player in his time.
GJ
Guest
I always wondered if he had pictures of Ross and a goat from an end of season trip somewhere when he was a young fella.
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
Sandilands has already re-signed for next year. It's possible he'll do a Priddis and change his mind, but no sign of it yet.
Peter the Scribe
Guest
I'm guessing he played about 127 games of AFL more than you have Trevor and Bird sitting at your keyboard.
Birdman
Guest
built like Tarzan, played like Jane
Trevor
Guest
And don't forget the great Jesse White - how quickly we forget.
Gecko
Guest
Retiring class of 2018 could be equally impressive if it includes Mackie, Lonergan, Ablett, Sandilands, Bob Murphy, Kelly, Gibson, Montagna, Heath Grundy, McVeigh, Daisy Thomas and one or two of those small Hawthorn forwards who seem to have burned out early. Plenty of grand finals played between them.
Gecko
Guest
Possibly Bob Murphy and Big Sandilands, depending on how the rest of the year pans out... and 300-gamer Drew Petrie.
spruce moose
Guest
Add Aaron Sandilands.
Rene Silva
Roar Rookie
2007 list of retirees: Chris Johnson, Darren Gaspar, Brent Montgomery James Clement, Daryl Wakelin, Glenn Archer Scott Camporeale, Mark Ruccito, Andrew Thompson Anthony Koutafidis, Chris Grant, Aaron Hamill Byron Pickett, Lance Whitnall, Matthew Lappin Luke Darcy, Nathan Buckley, James Hird Matthew Clarke, Joel Smith, Paul Licuria, Chris Scott That's just a starting 22 list for 2007 retirees (there's more) 13 x Premierships 3 x Brownlows 2 x Norm Smiths I could be bothered calculating the number of games played, the All Australian Jumpers and Club B&F's Equal to if not greater than the 2017 retiring class
Birdman
Guest
bit of a potato who made the most of his relationship with his coach and had a longer career than most.
Birdman
Guest
hmmm... 2016 was good but it wasn't great
johno
Guest
Pretty sure Zac Dawson will be in that list too.
I ate pies
Guest
Chris Grant should have been amongst that group of brownlow medalists.
Cat
Roar Guru
Probably add Andrew Mackie (3 x AFL premierships, 1 AA, 274 games) and Tom Lonergan ( 1 x AFL Premiership, 204 games)
The Fatman
Guest
A case could easily be mounted in favour of last year's group, headlined by Dane Swan, Matthew Pavlich, Corey Enright and the game's all-time record holder Brent Harvey. But nothing is likely to match the class of 2007 which boasted three Brownlow medallists in James Hird, Nathan Buckley and Mark Ricciuto, as well as Chris Grant, Glenn Archer, Anthony Koutoufides and many more.
The Fatman
Guest
It is a pretty good class. AFL RETIRING CLASS OF 2017: * 2x Brownlow Medals - Sam Mitchell (2012), Matt Priddis (2014). * 3x Norm Smith Medals - Steve Johnson (2007), Luke Hodge (2008, 2014). * 5x club captains - Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda, 2005, 2007-16), Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn, 2008-10), Jobe Watson (Essendon, 2010-15), Luke Hodge (Hawthorn, 2011-16), Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs, 2011-13). * 12x AFL premierships - Luke Hodge (2008, 2013-15), Sam Mitchell (2008, 2013-15), Steve Johnson (2007, 2009, 2011), Matthew Boyd (2016). * 21x All-Australian selections - Nick Riewoldt (2004, 2006, 2008-09, 2014), Luke Hodge (2005, 2008, 2010), Steve Johnson (2007-08, 2010), Sam Mitchell (2011, 2013, 2015), Matthew Boyd (2009, 2011, 2016), Jobe Watson (2012-13), Scott Thompson (2012), Matt Priddis (2015).