Norm Johnstone

Norman Alfred Johnstone (16 January 1927 – 7 June 2013) was an Australian rules footballer who played his entire 228 game career with the Fitzroy in the (then) VFL. He was a ruckman, but was capable of kicking goals when pushed into forward line.

Playing career

Recruited from the Chelsea Seagulls Football Club, Norm Johnstone played his first game for Fitzroy as a 17-year-old. Heftily built at 183 cm and 92 kg, he was nevertheless extremely pacy and was not frightened of using his weight.

Always a reliable player, he won Fitzroy's best and fairest award in 1947, and was a VFL interstate representative in 1948. He played for most of his career as a ruckman, while his career tally of 195 goals attested to the fact that he was always dangerous when resting in the forward lines. His season's total of 32 goals in 1955 were good enough for him to lead Fitzroy's goal kicking list.

Johnstone was a supporter of the 1997 merger of Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears and has continued to support the Brisbane Lions since the merger. He is the grandfather of former Brisbane Lions/Melbourne Demons footballer, Travis Johnstone.

Career highlights

On 3 May 2001, Johnstone was named in Fitzroy's Team of the Century, as a follower. In 2007, the Brisbane Lions recognised Johnstone as one of the ten greatest Lions players from the era 1927 to 1956.

Playing career: Fitzroy: 1944 – 57 (Games 228; Goals 185; Brownlow votes 39). Fitzroy best and fairest: 1947. Fitzroy leading goalkicker: 1955. Victorian representative: (1 game)