When you think of an English rugby fly half, you don’t typically imagine them lining up in a Victorian country town, kicking goals and taking marks on a chilly Saturday afternoon.
But Ollie Johnson, or “OJ” as he’s known back home in Bournemouth, isn’t your average athlete.
Just 14 weeks ago, Ollie arrived in Australia with a suitcase, a rugby pedigree, and a willingness to give something new a crack.
His partner who moved out in January to study veterinary science was the reason he made the leap, but is footy what’s made him stay?
“I’d seen a bit of Aussie Rules before,” says Ollie.
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“I thought, ‘why not?’ I turned up on the Tuesday night after landing Monday morning, had my first training session, and the boys welcomed me with open arms.
"I think we were all surprised I could actually kick a ball properly!”
He’s not wrong.
With a solid background in rugby union and having come through Bath Academy until 18, played for Harpenden, and studied at Loughborough University.
It's no shock that his skills transferred well.
Though he admits: “Handballing’s been a challenge and reading a 360 degree game is way different from rugby, where everything’s in front of you.
"At first, I’d get lost always turning around.”
But his competitive edge and vision made him a natural for the ruck.
“They chucked me in there early on, probably because they figured I wouldn’t mind a bit of physicality,” he laughs.
“And as long as the ball’s going to a target, you can’t complain too much.”
Ollie’s most memorable footy moment so far?
That first goal.
“It was two minutes to go, I’d already had one spoiled, then another chance came.
"I nailed it and the lads just swarmed me as the buzzer went off.”
He's since shifted to the backline, where, unsurprisingly, he’s thriving.
“Now I can see the game more like rugby again, everything’s in front of me.
"It’s starting to click.”
When he’s not making tackles or practicing handballs, Ollie’s building his other passion: coaching.
He runs LevelUpRugby, a content and coaching platform he started during COVID that’s grown to over 100,000 followers across social media.
“I’ve been trying to turn my rugby vocation into more than just a hobby the last five years,” he explains.
“One day, I want to coach full time.
"For now, I’m working out of a gym in Seymour, making content, doing bits and bobs.”
But he still enthuses for Rugby, having watched last week the Legends Lions match against former Wallabies.
“It was just old men running around the pitch, to be honest.
"But good to watch,” he said.
At just 24 years old, Ollie Johnson is the kind of bloke who makes you believe in taking chances.
From boarding school in Bath to booting footies in Avenel, he’s made Australia and Avenel Football Club home, at least for now.
