<h2>Western Bulldogs Delists Norm Smith Medallist Jason Johannisen - Three Point Summary:&nbsp;</h2> <p>-Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen has been delisted by the Western Bulldogs after 212 AFL games spanning 15 seasons</p> <p>-The 32-year-old defender-turned-forward remains open to continuing his career at another club or pursuing coaching opportunities</p> <p>-Johannisen joins Taylor Duryea, Liam Jones, Anthony Scott, and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan in departing the Kennel this off-season</p> <p>The Western Bulldogs have parted ways with premiership hero Jason Johannisen, ending the Norm Smith medallist's remarkable 15-year journey at Whitten Oval.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Premiership Hero's Journey Comes to an End</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Jason Johannisen's AFL career with the Western Bulldogs has reached its conclusion, with the club officially delisting the 212-game veteran after a season disrupted by injury concerns. The 32-year-old, who turns 33 next month, battled through a hamstring injury early in 2024 before recovering to feature in 16 matches during the Bulldogs' campaign.</p> <p>Johannisen's path to AFL stardom wasn't conventional. Selected in the 2010 rookie draft, the speedy defender had to wait until 2012 to make his senior debut. His patience was rewarded as he gradually established himself across both senior and reserve teams over the following seasons.</p> <p>The turning point came in 2015 when Johannisen emerged as a key contributor during the Bulldogs' return to finals football after a five-year absence. His development accelerated heading into 2016, though a three-month hamstring injury threatened to derail his season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Historic Grand Final Performance Defines Legacy</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>What followed became the stuff of Western Bulldogs folklore. In the 2016 AFL Grand Final against Sydney, Johannisen delivered a performance that epitomised the club's drought-breaking triumph. His 33 disposals, including a game-high 25 kicks, saw him charge relentlessly from the defensive 50 into attacking positions, creating the momentum that helped deliver the Bulldogs' first premiership since 1954.</p> <p>The stellar grand final display earned Johannisen 10 Norm Smith Medal votes, comfortably ahead of Sydney's Josh Kennedy (eight votes), teammate Tom Boyd (seven), and Liam Picken (five). His medal-winning performance remains one of the most memorable individual efforts in recent grand final history.</p> <p>Following the premiership success, Johannisen remained a consistent performer before successfully reinventing his role as a forward. This positional switch proved crucial when the Bulldogs reached another grand final in 2021, where Johannisen took a spectacular mark and kicked a goal in the defeat to Melbourne.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Future Options Remain Open</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Despite experiencing some inconsistent selection over recent seasons, Johannisen returned to the team during the Bulldogs' finals push in 2024, demonstrating his ongoing value to the squad. His delisting opens up opportunities for the experienced campaigner to continue his career elsewhere or transition into coaching.</p> <p>The veteran joins several other departures from the Kennel, including retired defender Taylor Duryea, delisted pair Liam Jones and Anthony Scott, and forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who has been traded to Gold Coast. The Bulldogs have moved quickly to address their defensive needs, with Connor Budarick joining from the Suns and expected to slot into the back six.</p> <p>Johannisen's departure marks the end of an era for a player who overcame early setbacks to become a premiership hero and Norm Smith medallist. Whether he continues his playing career at another club or pursues coaching opportunities, his contribution to the Bulldogs' 2016 breakthrough will forever cement his place in the club's rich history.</p> <p>For all the latest AFL Trade, Free Agency and Contract news this off-season, keep clicking back to <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/afl">The Huddle</a> to keep you across all the movement and where your club's picks for the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/afl/news/2025-afl-draft-order">2025 AFL Draft</a> fall.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>