JOHNS, Courtney

Essendon took a punt when they put young West Australian Courtney Johns onto their Rookie list at the start of the 2003 season. He was a solidly built player with strong hands and a powerful kick, but he had previously suffered a serious hip injury which doctors had predicted would end his promising career before it had even started. However, midway through the 2003 season the Essendon medical and fitness staff were convinced he would be fit to play and he managed seven games with the Bendigo Bombers, five of which he was used sparingly, but showed enough on the field and on the training track to be elevated to the Essendon's senior list at the end of 2003.

He suffered a minor setback in the 2004 pre-season undergoing further surgery to remove loose cartlilage from his hip and subsequently did not play a senior game in 2004 but his outstanding attitude and work ethic made the coaching staff determined to give him the opportunity to overcome his injury.

Johns made his long-awaited debut in Round 15, 2005, against Richmond, and played three consecutuve games before, frustratingly, injuring a hamstring which finished his season.

An ankle injury kept him out of the first three rounds of 2006, then he suffered a rib and hamstring injury. However he managed 10 games for the year and showed great promise as a potential key player for the club, kicking three goals in both Round 14 and 19.

Johns played six games in 2007, kicking five goals, however opportunites were few for him in 2008 and he finished the year with only two more senior games, for a total of 21 games.

He was delisted at the end of 2008.