There is a common misconception relating to Essendon premiership duo Jason and Mark Johnson.
It was most prevalent throughout the late 1990s and early-to-mid 2000s when they were strutting their stuff in the red and black.
Even after all these years, the confusion continues to this very day.
Because there are many similarities between the Johnsons. They were both born in 1978 (although four months apart), both have distinguishable blonde hair, and they were both tough, attacking the contest without fear.
Many assumed the Bombers had a quality pair of siblings at Windy Hill, so much so that one would assume the identity of the other so as to avoid awkward interactions with fans.
“Back in the day I used to get his playing card to sign,” Jason revealed on SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“Occasionally I’d put an ‘MJ’ on it to save the embarrassment for the person getting the signature.
“But it was all good fun.”
Johnson ‘Snr’ (as he is a few months older) says he is still asked about his ‘brother’ today.
“It’s a weekly occurrence,” he laughed.
“Even now I get, ‘How’s your brother going?’, that general conversation.
“I’ve given up. I’ve got four months on him so it was physically impossible for the parents to get together.”
The respective playing careers of the two Johnsons, even if they weren’t related, did have a direct correlation in that they were both integral members of the 2000 premiership side.
Coincidentally they had both played 15 games prior to the 2000 season commencing after Jason had battled away before breaking into Kevin Sheedy’s all-conquering outfit.
“I probably struggled the first three years. I strung together 15 games,” he added.
“It was more surviving for me that year just to stay in the team and contribute and be part of it. It was a bit of a snowball from the pre-season through to the end of the season.
“It just kept gathering momentum and as an individual just wanted to keep doing your bit to stay in the side, because it was quite competitive for spots.
“We didn’t have a whole lot of injuries and we didn’t make too many changes that year. So I was fortunate to be part of that group and something now I can look back on and be very proud and content with.”
The similarities between the Johnsons did not end there.
Jason would win two Crichton Medals while Mark claimed one of his own and both players would finish their careers in 2008, although more than 3,000 kilometres apart when the latter was at Fremantle.
They also celebrated their 100-game milestone two weeks apart and were just one week off playing game 150 together.
Mark even notched game 200 against the Bombers. Unfortunately Jason was out of the side at that time.
Johnson said his career came to a close after there was a change of coach at Essendon, but he was grateful he received a send-off alongside Bombers favourites and good mates Adam Ramanauskas, Damien Peverill and Mal Michael.
“A fair reason, probably a change of coach would do that,” he said when asked how it all come to an end.
“I started the season in 2008 reasonably well. We had a real bad loss against the Cats, close to 100 points.
“My form was ok but I got dropped that year. It was obviously Matty Knights’ first year and he started blooding a few of the young guys.
“I think every player thinks he’s got one more (year) in him. I certainly felt like I did, but in saying that he was pretty open and honest with me and told me where it was at and I was able to focus on life after footy, and get a few ducks in a row.
“I had a few injuries. I tore a calf and every time I tried to come back I kept tearing it again.
“He gave me the opportunity to play out my career. I finished with Rama and Pev and Mal Michel against the Saints. Another 100-point flogging there but it was probably one of my most memorable games at the Bombers.
“Just living in the moment and doing all those things you take for granted for the last time. Even though we lost the game I remembered it for how much I enjoyed the game itself.”
Johnson, who won the 2001 and 2005 Essendon best and fairests and was selected in the All-Australian side in 2001, would finish his career on 184 games.
His namesake, whose actual brother David played for Geelong, tallied 208 games in his 10-year career.