Walter Simon Johnson (1 September 1887 – 9 October 1962) was an
Australian rules footballer who played with
Fitzroy Fitzroy or FitzRoy may refer to:
People As a given name
*Several members of the Somerset family (Dukes of Beaufort) have this as a middle-name:
**FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855)
** Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beau ...
in the
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...
(VFL).
Family
The son of Thomas Henry Johnson (1866-1915), and Eliza Caroline Johnson (1863-1949), née Thomas, Walter Simon Johnson was born in Collingwood on 1 September 1887. He died on 9 October 1962.
Football
Having initially tried to play with Collingwood, Johnson made his debut for Fitzroy in 1907 and finished the year as the club's joint
best and fairest winner. He played most of his career at half back but played up forward for his first three seasons, topping Fitzroy's goal-kicking in 1908 with 27 goals.
A member of their premiership side in 1913, the following season Johnson represented
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
at the
Sydney Carnival. In 1916 he was appointed club captain and led the side to the premiership, defeating Carlton in the grand final. Fitzroy had actually finished the home and away season in last position; but, because of the war, only four teams were competing, and all qualified for the semi-finals.
For the next two years Johnson lived in the United Kingdom, where he worked in a munitions factory, before returning to Australia for one last season in 1919.
After retiring as a Fitzroy player,