Lions fans might have been surprised to read recent reports in the press that suggested Johnson, who kicked three goals in a decisive cameo during last week's 12-point win over Carlton, would retire at season's end.
But, it seems fair to suggest, not as surprised as Johnson himself.
"The funny thing for me is that there are people who must think they can determine my future when they don't have anything to do with the club," Johnson told lions.com.au.
"I don't know where they got that from. I've said all along that I think I have another two years of footy left in me, so long as the body holds up … and it's holding up pretty well right now.
"It's not really anything I'm thinking about right now. I'll get through to round 12, assess where I'm at and then approach the club and see where things go from there."
Johnson, twice named an All-Australian defender, found himself in a somewhat unusual situation in the second half of the thrilling win over the Blues - one-out in the Lions' goal square with Carlton young gun Bryce Gibbs.
Playing forward isn't new for the 30-year-old Johnson, who started his AFL career as a goal-sneak with Fitzroy in 1994. But he's rarely played as a 'traditional' leading full-forward and even less rarely has been opposed to someone almost 13 years younger.
"To be honest, I didn't think about that until afterwards when people mentioned it," Johnson said of the 'generation gap' between him and No. 1 draft pick Gibbs.
"The way you look at it, he is an AFL player, just the same as I am. And if you are selected to play AFL football, you have to stand up and do what is expected from an AFL footballer. It doesn't matter what age you are - it doesn't come into it.
"I must say I don't think any of my coaches would have had the confidence or faith to leave me one-on-one in the goal square when I was that age on someone who had quite a few years experience.
"I think it was a case of [Carlton coach] Denis Pagan wanting to put him into a situation that was unfamiliar for him and have him adjust to it. I thought he (Gibbs) was pretty good for most of the game and I'm sure he'll be a great player in this competition for many years to come."
After a 2006 campaign that was limited to eight games by osteitis pubis, Johnson is enjoying both a different role in the side and the benefits of a full pre-season in 2007.
He is no longer likely to play full matches in the backline, where he so successfully marshalled the Lions' defence and orchestrated counter-attacks during the premiership years of 2001-03.
"I'm going to be more of an impact player, coming off the bench and playing either up forward or down back when needed," Johnson explained.
"In the NAB Cup I was in the midfield a bit, the first couple of games of the season I was in defence and then the last few weeks I've played a bit more as a forward. In some games I might start down back and then shift forward.
"It would be difficult (to adjust to different roles), I think, for a young and inexperienced player. But because I've been around for a few years, Leigh has got a bit of faith in my ability to change the way I play on short notice. It's something I've had to do to stay in AFL ranks. You either evolve and adapt or you get left behind.
"The groin is good now. I haven't lost any of my agility and I'm still able to sidestep and manoeuvre my way around. I finished the pre-season off really hard and I think that's helped. I'm still running out the ends of quarters and late in games.
"Playing forward requires a lot more effort than people might think, because you have to put in so many 100 per cent efforts. You might lead out really hard, then have to double back quickly, then lead again to make yourself available for a teammate."
Johnson and his wife Vanessa recently welcomed a fourth child, with daughter Charlee joining sons Lachlan, Preston and Aiden.
Lachlan has just begun his first season of football at Coorparoo and his father will be hoping Johnson junior can kick a bag of goals in the lead-up to the clash with the Dockers.
"Lachlan had his first game the day we played the Kangaroos and he kicked a goal, so he said I had to kick a goal that night - which is what happened," Johnson said.
"Last week he was best-on-ground and kicked three and he said I had to kick three as well. Funnily enough, I did. So I have to match him or better him at the moment."
