A FOOT injury is no longer a problem for Fitzroy's last man standing Chris Johnson, setting the stage for an emotional AFL return.
The Lions will don the Fitzroy guernsey to honour a major club Kings of the Pride reunion function held that same night in
The last time the Lions wore the Fitzroy jumper they stormed to a shock victory over defending champions West Coast at Subiaco in round 14, sparking their current five-game winning run that has resurrected their top eight chances.
But the guernsey will take on much more significance for Johnson if the triple premiership player is given the green light to finally return following a two-month battle with plantar fasciitis.
Former two-time All-Australian Johnson aged 31, is the only remaining player on any AFL club list to have played for Fitzroy which merged with
If selected, he will again wear the Fitzroy guernsey that he proudly donned from 1994-1996.
The stage is set for an emotional day for Johnson after Matthews talked up the veteran's chances as he looked for a replacement for Ash McGrath (fractured wrist).
After undergoing surgery, McGrath is expected to be out for four to five weeks - the rest of the season if the Lions don't make the finals.
"He (Johnson) played very well on the weekend (in the reserves). He's missed a lot of footy and a lot of running which wasn't going to help him," Matthews said.
"(But) Chris has played a couple of good games."
Johnson's last senior game was
He returned from injury on July 29 for reserves outfit the Suncoast Lions.
Matthews has been forced to change his winning team after McGrath went down in the third quarter of the Lions' 37-point win over the Kangaroos at
Johnson is in the mix, along with a player who at one stage even Matthews believed he would not see on the field again - Chris Scott.
The two-time premiership player has not played in almost two seasons following hip surgery but has battled back through the Lions reserves alongside Johnson.
"Chris Scott has played three (reserves) games and played quite well on the weekend I thought, Scott Harding has been playing that role (of McGrath and will also be considered)," Matthews said.
In other injury news, Matthews confirmed Troy Selwood would play against Hawthorn despite suffering a shoulder injury in the second quarter against the Kangaroos.
And defender Josh Drummond is also to be considered after missing a week with a knee complaint.
Not that the Lions' defence needs any further bolstering after conceding just 18 goals in the last three games.
Matthews said he was excited as the Lions entered the regular season's home stretch - but not by the prospect of playing finals.
"The only time it matters where you are is after round 22. It determines what happens next," he said.
"But the fact that we've been playing some good footy over the last month is exciting and encouraging."
