Terang Mortlake's Kane Johnstone on injury comeback, coaching under 16 football team

Injury limited the teenager to cameo appearances for the Bloods two years ago.

Then the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the 2020 Hampden league season.

Now 18, Johnstone, who made his senior debut at 16, is ready to cement a spot in the Ben Kenna-coached side.

"I played round one against Camperdown and went for a shepherd and did my shoulder," he said of his injury-riddled 2019 season.

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"I had 10 weeks off, did all the rehab, tried to come back against Cobden and lasted 30 seconds or so and did my shoulder again.

"I went straight under the knife and got the surgery to get it fixed up. I was hoping for last year to be a good time to come back but hopefully this year will be good."

Terang Mortlake coach Ben Kenna said opposition needed to expect the unexpected in 2021 and prepare for players like Johnstone to emerge.

"Like all clubs there's going to be junior guys that people won't have heard of or seen before and all of a sudden they'll establish themselves as regular season players," he said.

Johnstone could be forgiven, after his injury hurdles, for focusing on his own game. Instead he's taken on added responsibility coaching Terang Mortlake's under 16 football team.

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"It is a massive thing to try and get juniors because I think another year off would really hurt everyone," Johnstone said.

"I am only 18 but coaching is something I really want to get into.

"I am really enjoying it; they are all a good bunch of lads. We haven't had much junior success in the past so hopefully if I can teach them a few things and make them better people and better players, it will be a good thing for the club going forward."

Johnstone's own experience as a junior will help in his new role.

The midfield-forward has been involved with Greater Western Victoria Rebels' NAB League program in the past.

"I made the under 16 Rebels but I was injured and I was one of the last couple cut in the under 18 Rebels two years ago," Johnstone said.

"I gave it up because I wasn't able to train until February (2020) with my shoulder. I said I'd just focus on trying to get back into the seniors in the Hampden league."

Johnstone hopes he can make a statement as part of the Bloods' best 21 and wants to be "a problem for the opposition".

"I'd rather clubs look at me and hate to play against me," he said.

"I'd like to think myself as a good runner now. I have been working on my fitness a lot the last couple of years because I haven't been able to do anything skills based."

Johnstone is having a positive impact off the field too.

He is employed at Cooinda in Terang as a disability worker and also helps his dad Jock on their dairy farm.

"It is interesting. It is good working with the less fortunate and it's definitely me a lot more grateful," Johnstone said of his role at Cooinda.

"We were complaining about lockdown but then a lot of the clients are probably thinking like that everyday.

"It puts everything in perspective."

Johnstone is one of a handful of players expected to strengthen the Bloods' senior side in 2021.

Kenna said the club had more depth than it would have if games were played last season.

Jimmy Moloney (Swan Hill), Will Kain (Bendigo) and Sam Maclean (Nirranda) have rejoined the team while Toby Harris, Harvey Roberts and Jordi Dwyer will get opportunities.

"There's a couple of guys who are based in Melbourne who through work are more available this season than they were in the past too," Kenna said.

"Dylan Jones only played a couple of games in 2019 and he's now around working locally and Sam Crawley is another one who should be available more.

"Darcy Hobbs is another one (who will get more opportunities). He's a young, tall player. He's probably stopped growing now so he will be maturing and filling out. You can just see the improvement from someone like that who I am guessing is 200 centimetres."

Kenna said inside midfielder Harris had overcome multiple injury setbacks.

"Toby is another young bloke who is 19. He had a couple of knee reconstructions and has not played much footy for three or four years now," he said.

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