ISAIAH Johnson was a teen football prodigy.
He had the potential to play in the game's senior upper echelons after playing for the Australian Flying Boomerangs indigenous AFL team as a 15-year-old in South Africa in 2010, along with junior representative clubs, the Bendigo Pioneers and Ballarat Rebels.
He also won a Herald Sun Cup Shield for St Patrick's College back in 2011 after making his senior debut for Robinvale in the Sunraysia Football League at 14.
A bigger stage beckoned for Johnson.
However, when he turned 18, his life started to spiral out of control.
By his own admission, partying took over, culminating in a five-month jail sentence at Dhurringile prison for drug-related offences in 2018.
Many who know Johnson today, a star footballer for the Robinvale Eagles' senior side, would scarcely understand the battles that his made him such a positive influence over his teammates.
In a tell-all interview with Sunraysia Daily this week, the 27-year-old, much-loved Eagle lifts the lid on his troubled past in the hope of inspiring others that they can overcome their demons to become a better, happier person.
The proud Ngiyampaa man spoke about his recent high-flying, on-field exploits on the eve of the Eagles' elimination final against Ouyen United, before the interview took an emotional turn as he reflected on a "tough journey" after high school.He did help Werrimull to a Millewa Football League premiership win in 2013, before kicking a league-leading 84 goals in the 2014 season.
But football dropped off the radar for him in the years to follow.
"I didn't play much for a few years after this. I had a real bad path and started partying too much and lost my love of football," he said.
At this point of the interview, he dropped a little-known bombshell as he choked back tears.
"I don't know how to say this, Matt," he said before a brief pause.
"I was actually in prison for five months in 2018.
"But that was actually a turning point for me. There was a football program there and I was able to play outside while I was there for a little team called Rushworth.
"This was when I started to get my passion back for football. I kept playing for them when I got out and they were paying for my travel back there for games till the end of the season."
"Izzy" then gave an emotional tribute to his partner, Germaine Teohaere, who "stuck by me when I was inside".
"Not only did she stand by me, but she helped saved me," said Johnson, who moved back to Robinvale to be with his 24-year-old partner after serving his time.
Fast forward to today, and the couple have two children aged under three.
Johnson also works in the maintenance department at the Euston Club and has come from the clouds to become one of the most influential players in the SFNL senior football competition.
He exudes passion and runs rings around defenders with his sharp skills and unrivalled energy levels.
He's not so much like a dog jumping up at a bone. Rather, he's more like a hungry shark going head-first into a whale carcass.
Since getting called up from reserves to the senior team in round 11, Izzy hasn't looked back, booting 35 goals in the past seven games.
But it's his off-field influence that has also earned the praise of his teammates and coach Andrew Richardson.
"He's come from left field for us this season," Richardson said.
"He didn't have much of a pre-season, but the way he was playing in the reserves, it was hard not to grab our attention.
"He was hesitant to start with, but we assured him that he was more than capable of playing well at the senior level again.
"He's so full of positive energy. It's been infectious right through the playing group. We're rapt with him."
As Johnson says, it's the troubled chapter in his life that has made him an influence for good at the Eagles.
"I'm sort of like the hype train in the club. I've had a dark past, so now I just appreciate how well life is going for me," he said.
"Every morning on Facebook, I put up stories trying to lift people up. I want to be a positive force now.
"I've got to an age where I'm seeing how life affects other people more than me.
"The more positive I can be, the more it will hopefully rub off on other people around me."
He said the Aboriginal community in the Robinvale/Euston area were still facing many challenges, but that there were some good programs in place to assist the youth.
He said his cousin and fellow Eagle, Leon Johnson, was a "wonderful inspiration for both me and the community".
"He is doing some great work for the Clontarf Foundation (which aims to improve the education, life skills and employment prospects of young Aboriginal men)," Izzy said.
"For me, I believe sport is a great way to make young people feel like they belong in the community.
"I can certainly relate to the importance of sport giving people an identity."
Richardson gave a further insight into Johnson's appreciation for his football rebirth in 2022.
"I've got to know him as a person and he always gives you the time of day," "Richo" said.
"He messages me after every single game to thank me for the opportunity to play seniors. I can tell you, I don't get too many of those," he added with a laugh.
"But he also messages the other boys in the team with positive thoughts and gets around them.
"He's just a really humble, inspiring person. We're delighted to have him as part of our club."
