MELBOURNE ruckman/forward Paul Johnson isn't sure which position he'll spend the most time in next year, but he's expecting more responsibility either way.
The retirement of David Neitz and the delisting of Jeff White means there are key holes in both the Demons' forward and rucking structures for 2009.
Johnson, 24, spent this year rotating between the two roles and now anticipates a similar responsibility next year – but to a greater degree.
"It will be interesting. I've spoken to Chris Connolly and Dean Bailey, and they were happy with the role I played this year, playing forward and going into the ruck," he told melbournefc.com.au.
"It's going to change a little bit with a lot of the older guys going, and with Jeff White – who's been such a huge influence on my career – leaving too, it will be a big responsibility for the three or four ruckman that are there now.
"It was time for us to stand up anyway, so now it's something to look forward to and something to be excited about."
Johnson doesn't see himself specifically as a ruckman, or as a stay at home forward. Instead, he considers himself a jack-of-all-trades big man the club can use wherever they need him.
"I don't see myself as one or the other. With the way that footy is moving at the moment from year to year, you've got to be able to play more than one position," he said.
"You're starting to see that now, with players like St Kilda's Justin Koschitzke, who plays forward, in the ruck, and they can even put him in the backline at times.
"It's starting to move that way where if you want to be a decent player, you've got to be able to play in more than one position and be able to move around the ground a bit.
"Hopefully I've got that as a strength that I can play forward and in the ruck, and if need be, go down back. It's something to look forward to."
He also said neither him nor fellow big man Mark Jamar will hold the title of "No.1 ruckman" next year, and expects both to flourish in the absence of White.
"Mark started off having a really good pre-season, and he knows we're both ready to stand up, with John Meesen and young Jake Spencer as well," he said.
"It's probably a good thing that Dean Bailey will never just quote one as being the No.1 ruckman; it's all about pushing each other and working and getting the best out of each other.
"With Whitey gone, there's a huge opportunity for someone to stand up."
Away from football, Johnson has a keen interest in real estate, having first entered the market when he was just 21 years old.
He continues to build a property portfolio as well as complete work experience with Caulfield North real estate company Gary Peer and Associates.
"I've always been into the real estate. I like putting my money into housing rather than the share market, because you can see what you're getting rather than a piece of paper saying you've got so many shares in something," he said.
"I've always liked the way the market works and if you're smart enough, there's plenty of money to be made from it."
Johnson, who lives with his girlfriend Katie, has immediate goals to "start being an influence" around his football club. However, in the long term, he can see himself working in the industry he is learning so much about.
"I don't know whether I want to become an agent, but I could use that to develop land and sell it off myself, or along those lines of selling and dealing in real estate, that could be the go," he said.
"It's a great industry, and now is the perfect time to buy."
