Johnson to weigh up future as Swans confirm sixth ACL injury

The Sydney Swans have confirmed Alex Johnson has suffered the sixth ACL tear of his career.

Johnson, playing just his second game back after missing the entirety of the 2013 to 2017 seasons, went down in the first quarter against Melbourne at the MCG.

The 26-year-old stayed in Victoria to be with his family before undergoing scans to confirm what the Swans had suspected.

He sustained the injury to his ‘good’ right knee – his previous five ACLs had been on his left – and the Swans say they will decide on his immediate future in the coming days.

“Clearly this is a really disappointing outcome for Alex,” football boss Tom Harley said.

“Alex has worked so hard over the past six years to get back to playing football and for this to happen in his second game back is just shattering for him and for us.

“Alex has shown unbelievable resilience and determination over his career and will continue to be an inspiration to his teammates and the wider AFL community.

“As we saw after the injury on Sunday, Alex is the ultimate clubman and will be doing all he can to support his teammates from the sidelines for the remainder of the season.”

Johnson is expected to undergo a traditional knee reconstruction and would be unlikely to play football in 2019.

His contract is up at the end of this year but the Swans won’t hang him out to dry.

Johnson has worked as a development coach with the club’s reserves in the past and could move back into that role if he does not stay on the team’s list but wants to remain in Sydney and in football.

However, Harley previously suggested that retirement wasn’t necessarily the default option.

“If I know him at all, I reckon he’ll have a crack at it,” Harley told SEN radio on Monday.

“We just need to work our way through that respectfully. At the right time we’ll sit down.”

Meanwhile, star defender Nick Smith is unlikely to play again this season.

The veteran is expected to miss six weeks with a hamstring injury that he suffered early in the Swans’ win over the Demons.