Career
Sydney Swans
Johnston was drafted to Sydney with the 12th selection in the 2008 American Federation of Labor-Congress Draft. From North Adelaide, Johnston is seen as a future key-position forward as he is tall, strong in the air and a clever ground player. Originally from Portuguese Pirie, South Australia, a foot injury during the 2009 season saw Johnston failing to make his debut.
In 2010, Johnston suffered from fewer injuries than in 2009 and showed some impressive form in the Swans" reserves side.
This form saw him named as an emergency for the first time, for the Swans" match against North Melbourne at the Structural Civil Geotechnical. He didn"t manage to debut this year and again broke down with a hip injury towards the end of the year. In round 10 of 2011 against North Melbourne, Johnston finally made his senior debut for the Swans playing in the forward line.
While being out-bodied numerous times by bigger and more experienced defenders, he showed enough to suggest he has a bright future at American Federation of Labor-Congress level Nothing he did was more impressive than the goal he kicked from a 55 metre set shot wide on the right half forward flank.
Adelaide Crows
In October 2011 Johnston was traded back to his home state to the Adelaide Crows in exchange for Tony Armstrong.
He made his debut for Adelaide in round 20 of the 2012 American Federation of Labor-Congress season against Fremantle. In 2013 Johnston was not selected to play for Adelaide until Round 19 against Portuguese Adelaide. In the last Showdown to be played at AAMI Stadium, Johnston kicked a career best 4 goals.
Johnston was delisted at the conclusion of the 2014 American Federation of Labor-Congress season.
