Playing the game for less than a year, the Echuca footballer was taken by Geelong with pick 15 — the 12th Victorian selection in a state-based draft — on Tuesday night last week.
But for Johnson, 20, her natural knack for handling the Sherrin has her more than ready to embrace the opportunity before her.
“I've dreamt about it, but I've probably never put much thought into it,” Johnson said.
“A lot of people have said to me though there was no surprise, that they've always thought I could do it.
“Everyone was really happy to see me get this opportunity.”
Speaking of draft night, Johnson said there was a mix of relief and excitement when she finally heard her name called out.
“It was pretty special. I had my whole family watching with me and we were all pretty nervous,” she said.
“I had spoken to the club a few times, so there was a chance, but I wasn't 100 per cent certain.
“I wasn't expecting anything, but I was hoping and that's what ended up happening.”
Born and bred in Echuca, Johnson uprooted her life to Geelong this year to study at Deakin University.
It was there she finally decided to take up the sport she'd always wanted to play, first training with Geelong Amateurs before her name found its way to Geelong's list manager Ben Waller.
From there, Johnson earned a spot on the club's VFLW list, with her natural sporting talent making her transition to the sport easier.
“I've wanted to play footy my whole life, but when I was younger there was only the open women's team,” Johnson said.
“So it wasn't really available to me, and then I was playing netball and basketball for a few years.
“But kicking a footy isn't new to me. It's something I've been doing forever. I've always had a kick in the backyard with my brother (Isaac) and Dad (Anthony).
“So while I'd never played, I also felt like I had in a way.
“I was a bit nervous about playing, but when I finally started it actually felt quite natural.
“And in game sense, I feel like I've picked it up pretty quickly.”
Averaging 12.5 disposals and 4.9 clearances this season, Johnson has proven to be a consistent performer on the wing.
“My role there is to be that extra defender and help transition the ball into the 50,” Johnson said.
“My strengths have been my marking and kicking and being that link for the backline and forward line.
“From my first game to now, I feel so much smarter and better about everything I do and how I go into a game.
“I feel like as I keep playing I'm only going to get better.”
Her time in the VFLW has already exposed her to the elite level of Geelong's AFLW program, with several top-level players coming back to compete in the second-tier competition during the winter.
“Watching what they do and how they go about it is something that has been really good,” Johnson said.
Johnson and her VFLW teammates will vie for a spot in in the 2021 VFLW grand final this weekend, lining up against Essendon in the preliminary final.
But following that, all eyes will be on the 2022 AFL Women's competition which is set to begin in December 2021.After only winning one game in their 2021 campaign, Geelong is set to sport a fairly new-look list under incoming coach Dan Lowther.As for what Johnson is hoping to achieve in her first season as an AFLW player, a debut in the hoops at some point will be high on her list.“I'm just looking forward to it,” she said.“I don't have too many expectations of playing every game.“I've never had a proper pre-season before, so I'm looking forward to that and getting some conditioning in.“I just want to embrace the opportunity and see how much I can develop in the pre-season and hopefully get an opportunity in December.”
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