Matthew Johnson (Australian footballer)

For Footscray Football Club player, see Matt Johnson (Australian footballer).

Matthew Johnson (born 16 March 2003) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Matthew Johnson
Johnson in April 2025
Personal information
Date of birth	(2003-03-16) 16 March 2003 (age 22)
Original team(s)	Subiaco
Draft	No. 21, 2021 National draft
Debut	Round 3, 2023, Fremantle vs. West Coast, at Optus Stadium
Height	193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	89 kg (196 lb)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Fremantle
Number	44
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2022–	Fremantle	55 (9)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 19, 2025.
Career highlights
Rising Star Nomination: 2023
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

AFL career

Johnson was drafted with the first selection of the second round, the 21st selection overall, in the 2021 AFL draft from Subiaco in the West Australian Football League,^[1] after being widely predicted to be a first round draft selection.^[2]

Johnson debuted for Fremantle in Round 3 of the 2023 AFL season against cross town rivals West Coast. Johnson was the named substitute and came on during the 3rd quarter for injured teammate, Heath Chapman. Johnson finished the game with 6 disposals in his first ever win.^[3] He received a rising star nomination for his seven mark, nineteen disposal game against Port Adelaide in round 23 of the 2023 season.^[4] He collected 20 disposals and kicked a goal the next week against Hawthorn at the MCG.^[5]

Johnson made the line-up for Fremantle's opening game of the 2024 AFL season against the Brisbane Lions at Optus Stadium. He finished the match with eleven disposals.^[6] He collected twenty-two disposals the next week against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium. Johnson was an important contributor in round nine against Richmond at the MCG, kicking a goal and equaling his at the time career-best disposal record of 25, a record which coincidentally was set the season prior also against Richmond.^[7] He finished his third season at Fremantle having played a career-best 19 games.

Johnson collected a career-high 27 disposals in round one of the 2025 AFL season, against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.^[8] He would equal this record six weeks later, against Adelaide at Optus Stadium, during the Dockers annual Len Hall Tribute Game.^[9]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of round 24, 2024^[10]

Legend

G	Goals	K	Kicks	D	Disposals	T	Tackles
B	Behinds	H	Handballs	M	Marks

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
2022	Fremantle	44	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2023	Fremantle	44	18	4	4	131	125	256	59	46	0.2	0.2	7.2	6.9	14.2	3.2	2.5
2024	Fremantle	44	19	3	10	152	150	302	68	58	0.2	0.5	8.0	7.9	15.9	3.6	3.1
Career			37	7	14	283	275	558	127	104	0.2	0.4	7.6	7.4	15.1	3.4	2.8