Australian Football Association of North America

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Last week, Fremantle's Michael Johnson escaped with a $500 fine and court costs for possession of cocaine but is once again in trouble with the club for what Coach Mark Harvey called "poor judgment". On May 26, he was ordered by Coach Harvey not to attend the Round 10 match against North Melbourne after going out to a nightclub the previous weekend. Although he will not be further sanctioned by the club for his poor decision, club CEO Steve Rosich said the club would re-examine the counseling program for Johnson. Coach Mark Harvey told Johnson to "...sit back, watch...and...understand that he should be part of the team...". He has already been fined $5000 by the club and suspended for five games. It has also been revealed that Johnson was caught in possession of ecstasy in 2005, one year after joining the Dockers. His lawyer had been aware of Johnson's previous indiscretion, but the club has only just now learned of this incident. At that time, Johnson escaped penalties but was directed to a "diversion program".

Johnson, who was also barred from training, will rejoin the club for training after Round 10 but, according to Harvey, will need to earn back the respect and trust of the club and his teammates. Both Harvey and Rosich believe that being back at the club will benefit Johnson and hope he can be steered in the right direction. Harvey was quoted in part, "if we look for penalties for everything...is that the right way to go...Does that...stop the habits?..." He further emphasized that the responsibility ultimately fell to the players.

Source: theage.com.au