By Alesha Capone
Justin “Johnsy” Johns is being welcomed back to the Westbourne Grammarians Football Club as senior men’s coach for next year.
Johns has been involved with Westbourne for about a decade, serving as a playing assistant coach in 2016 when the Warriors took out a premiership, and as senior coach in 2018 and 2019.
Football is a major part of Johns’ life – the father-of-four also served as Under-12s coach for the Werribee Centrals Juniors and coaches’ co-ordinator last year.
He plans to continue at Werribee Centrals in 2022, in addition to his duties at Westbourne.
Johns said that Westbourne reached out this year and asked him if he was interested in coming back on board as senior men’s coach ahead of the next season.
He said it was “positive and very exciting” to take up the position again.
“Football and coaching is something I love,” Johns said.
Johns said one of his first aims was to provide a sense of stability for the Westbourne playing group after the COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions of the past two years.
“I think for the last couple of years, I feel for anyone who coached a team for the last 48 months, it has been hard to find consistency,” he said.
Johns said that players at Westbourne were truly there because of their dedication to, and desire to, play football.
“Westbourne is a little bit different to other WRFL clubs, we don’t pay players,” he said.
“For us, it’s about the love of the game and building the culture from the ground up.”
Johns said that the friendly culture at the club was an important part of its operations.
“Whenever the club is doing well socially, it translates to on-field success,” he said.
As well, Johns said he enjoyed the different aspects of coaching both seniors and junior players.
“To be honest, I just like seeing the change in people and seeing them get to the level they want,” he said.
“I get as much enjoyment teaching someone to kick a ball for the first time or how to run, as I do the more experienced players.
“With the tactics build-up to big games, I really enjoy that side too.”
Johns said his eldest son Hudson, who will play in the Under-14s at the Werribee Centrals in 2022, also liked watching Westbourne play and train.
“He’s a footy nut and become part of the furniture over the years at Westbourne,” Johns said.
Talking of younger players, Johns said he was looking forward to seeing some Westbourne Grammar School graduates from 2018 join the football club as players next year,
“I think the club and group of players have done a great job the past couple of years in drawing on the school,” he said.
“It’s really exciting to have these graduates from the college coming back.
“I think that’s the way we’ll move up the grades and find some consistency.”
