One of my childhood heroes was Bob "Tassie" Johnson (2 December 1937 – 29 October 2015) who played with Melbourne from 1959 to 1969.  The 189cm tall Johnson was originally signed to play for the Demons in 1958 from North Launceston but missed the entire season as they refused to clear him.

Melbourne introduced two future captains in 1959 after its surprise defeat at the hands of Collingwood in the 1958 Grand Final - Hassa Mann and Johnson who gained the nickname “Tassie” to distinguish him from the other two Johnsons at the club, “Big Bob” and Trevor.

Tassie played mainly at full back but was sometimes used in other defensive positions and in the ruck. He was a prodigious kick and his long drop kick outs after a point often penetrated into the centre of the ground.

His achievements were many:

3 × VFL grand finals for 3 x VFL premierships: 1959, 1960, 1964

Melbourne captain: 1970

Melbourne Team of the Century (full back)

Tasmanian Team of the Century (full back)

Melbourne Hall of Fame

Wore # 8 (most games for Melbourne in that number)

Games - 202

Goals - 20

Finals - 11

Finals Goals - 2

Debut - Rd 1, 1959 v Richmond (PR)

Final Game - Rd 20, 1969 v SM (LO)

Debuted in 1959 at the age of 21

Retired in 1969 at the age of 31

Father of Tony Johnson (1981-83, U19's/Reserves)

Awards/Achievements

MFC Captain (1969)

MFC Vice Captain (1967-68)

1966, 1968 2nd MFC Best & Fairest

1960, 1961 MFC Outstanding Service Award

1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967 Victorian State Rep.

1968 Australian IR Rep.

MFC Team of the Century

MFC 150 Heroes Selection

MFC Life Member

MFC Hall of Fame

Tasmanian Team of the Century

Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame

First Tasmanian to play 100 VFL games

NTFA - North Launceston

* 35 games & 30 goals for NL (1956-57)

VFA - Box Hill Captain/Coach (1971) played 4 games (3 goals)

One of my fondest memories apart from his premierships and his outstanding performances in defence was that he often featured on World of Sport in a segment that highlighted long kicking and the style of each player’s kicks where the judges would lift up a placard with a number up to 10. Tassie always did the Demons proud in that competition.

excellent photo

Peter Hudson named him as his toughest opponent

The master of the drop kick.... a sight to behold.

Used to have 8 on my Dees jumper 😉