17/04/2025
This coming Saturday we celebrate the second leg of Daniel “DJ” Johns’ Senior milestone games.
You may recall that last year. on Saturday 10th August to be precise, we celebrated the great man’s 300th Senior Game but this took in just over 150 games with other clubs and finally 245 days later DJ will enter the gates at Quambee Reserve to play his 150th Game in Saints colours.
To put it in perspective just how much this man loves his footy, it has taken 20 footy seasons and a second coming back at Saints headquarters, to finally make it to 150 NRFC senior games as he nears his 39th Birthday. No matter how you look at, this can only be described as a bloody dedicated & brilliant achievement, considering most of his current teammates were in nappies & drinking milk from a bottle when he played his first game at North Ringwood in 2005😂
For those of you who have not been at the club for a long time, DJ didn’t play junior football until U17’s, only ever having played basketball as a kid when he started playing for Wonga Park Primary School & a sport DJ still loves to play to this day. Eventually his mates from High School convinced him to come down to Warrandyte to have a kick. Despite only being there for a short time and new to competitive football, DJ won the “Best Clubman’s” Award in his first year of footy at the Bloods.
Unfortunately for Warrandyte but fortunately for us, DJ wandered in the doors at Quambee in the pre-season of 2004/05, after crossing over from Warrandyte when there were rumors that they would not field a side in 2005.
DJ who was now top age U18, tall and with natural athletic ability, instantly started to play in our reserves/seniors in 2005, playing with us to the end of the 2012 season, when he left to seek greater opportunities due to the number of current rucks we had at the club playing in the 1’s. The club was devasted to lose DJ but we fully understood his reason as he did have a lot to offer a club as genuine first ruck or key position player
In 7 years, this quality young man won a Club Reserves B&F and even better back-to-back EFL Division 3 Reserves B&F’s, and let’s face it, it takes talent to achieve that, no matter what grade you are in.
I (Mark Jonas) remember the day DJ called me to say he was leaving and just wanted to let me know the reasons and made a promise that one he would return to finish off his senior footy with the club that first gave him his opportunities and to this great man’s word he did, returning to our club in 2023 to help us out, knowing that low numbers hurt us in 2022.
With the promise to a handful of club people still at the club in the back of his mind and driving 1 to hours 2 hours 3 times a week to Frankston to play with Pines made the decision a no brainer for the big man as well as mates still at the club & playing with Robbie Nahas down there a couple of years earlier
So, at the tender age of 37 and after achieving his dream as a senior ruckman/key position player, DJ returned to us with 2 x Senior Premierships under his belt.
What makes returning even more special is the fact, despite his age, DJ was not just making up numbers. He came back to us fit as a fiddle, putting in a pre-season of a man half his age. DJ still had plenty to offer on the field in the 1’s & 2’s as well as offering our young boys plenty of knowledge & experience from his 20 years in the senior system.
If you think I am just pumping up his tyres, think again! Last year, DJ played all 18 home & away games, kicked 11 goals and was named 7 times in the BOG. To top it all off, DJ won the 2024 EFNL Division 1 Reserves B&F, 12 years after winning his last league B&F in Division 3 and may I remind you again, at the age of 38!!
Things are a lot different now for DJ in his second coming in his personal life. He is still a mad Richmond supporter along with the rest of his family, but he now has some different outside interests, with one of them being in a band with his Dad, George.
Besides basketball & footy, music has always been a big part of the John family. With Dad in a band for most of his life, DJ recalls many a time as a young kid, falling asleep while watching his Dad and his mates rehearsing. DJ first learnt to play the drums with his cousin on a drum kit brought by Dad and with the lure of receiving Dad’s Fender Stratocaster, DJ also learnt to play guitar. The John boys are now in a band together called “Reprise” with DJ on the drums, back up vocal and even lead vocals on certain songs.
If you love the classic rock & Motown songs from eras gone by, keep an eye out for their next gig at https://www.facebook.com/reprisebandAU/about
To top of the year in 2024, DJ & his beautiful partner Hayley received the best Christmas present ever. In the wee hours on Christmas Day, even before Santa had finished his rounds, Daniel & Hayley were blessed with the arrival of their first child, little Maya John, their very own little Christmas Angel🥰
Below is what DJ has achieved at our club over his two stints.
North Ringwood Football Club 2005-2012
Games: 113
Goals 54 & 21 BOG’s
2005 EFL Division 3 Reserves Premiership
2011 EFL Division 3 Reserves Best & Fairest
2011 NRFC Reserves Best & Fairest
2012 EFL Division 3 Reserves Best & Fairest
Position: Ruck/Key Forward/Key back
North Ringwood Football Club 2023 - Present
Games: 36
Goals 35 & 13 BOG’s
2024 EFNL Division 1 Reserves B&F
Position: Ruck/Key Position
Congratulations Champ on reaching this amazing milestone. It takes a man with unbelievable resilience, determination & the love of local footy to keep fronting up year after year for 20 seasons and the fact that you are still playing ruck and key positions at the age of 38 just shows the dedication you have to do so and trust me mate, the fact you have returned to NRFC to do this, also shows the kind of man you are to keep to your word.
No matter what happens from here mate, we are just rapt to have you back at the Saints but unfortunately now Robbo knows your age, expect calls to start coming in to join the Vets any time you like, you could still be playing until you are 90!😂
DJ, you have always been a club favorite and a huge presence at our club and to still be playing at the level you are at Divi 1 level, you are an inspiration for your team mates and many others.
Enjoy the day mate with your family and friends.
Go get ‘em DJ 🔴⚪⚫
