IN FOOTBALL, timing is everything. Which is why Brisbane Lions co-captain Chris Johnson is happy that he chose to make Saturday night’s Gabba clash with Geelong his last AFL game.

Johnson was saddened to end his glittering 264-game career but heartened to go out on his own terms, with his family watching on.

“It was either going to be this year or next year and it was great to be able to do it right,” Johnson said on Saturday.

“There wasn’t going to be a real opportunity for me next year. And I didn’t want to play for another club – I couldn’t bear to put on another jumper.

“This was the right way to do it, with my kids, my wife, my mum and dad and my brother and sister, all there to live the moment with me.”

It is fitting that Johnson got the timing of his retirement right, because he so often chose the right option at the right time – both on the field with his sublime skills and off the field with his leadership.

After starting out his career as a goal-sneak with Fitzroy, Johnson became the best creative defender in the business after moving to the Gabba following the 1996 merger with the Brisbane Bears.

“When he played that quarterback out of defence, his ability to pinpoint the ball and find the right option was fantastic,” Lions coach Leigh Matthews reflected.

“The back group in our premiership years was a great group and Chris was an All-Australian and an integral part of it.

“He has been very influential within the [playing] group. He’s one of those people who isn’t that heavy with the words, so when he says something, people take notice.”

Johnson exits the game with a long list of honours – three premierships, two All-Australian guernseys, captaincy of Australia in the 2005 International Rules series, second placing in the Lions’ 2005 fairest-and-best count and the last former Fitzroy player active in the competition.

He also says he’ll take with him skills he might not otherwise have acquired. The 31-year-old father of Lachlan, Preston, Aiden and Charlee has already started part-time work at AFL SportsReady with former Lions player development manager Shane Johnson.

“It is a bit emotional – but I’m happy and grateful for the opportunities I’ve had,” Johnson said.

“It’s time to celebrate my career. It’s an era gone, with no more Fitzroy players any more, but there is still a lot of history in this club that is Fitzroy.

“Wearing the Fitzroy jumper is a great initiative of the club and hopefully down the track they can keep doing it.

“This club has given me great opportunities and some great life skills that I probably wouldn’t have learnt outside of football. It’s a great club to play for and I’m very proud to have played here.

“For any mother in Victoria or South Australia or anywhere and their son is coming up to play here, [I can tell you] they will be in good hands.”