Christened Harvey, but invariably referred to as 'Harry', Johns played his first game of senior football for Kent Town Ramblers in 1907 when just fourteen years of age. In 1911 he played for Norwood's 'B' team and, after a highly impressive season as a follower, was elevated to the senior side the following year. Between 1912 and 1915 Johns played mainly at centre half back, but it was after the war, when shifted to full back, that he really came into his own. Pre-eminently solid, assured and capable, he made his South Australian interstate debut against the VFL in 1919, and went on play for his state on 4 occasions. When his career was brought to a peremptory end through injury in 1922 he had played a total of precisely 100 senior games, a tally that would doubtless have been considerably higher had three complete seasons not been lost to the war. Tragically for Johns, his retirement came just weeks before the red and blues went top for the first time since 1907.

*Courtesy of John Devaney at www.fullpointsfooty.net

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