Bert Johnson: key obituary facts
Is Bert Johnson dead? Yes. Bert Johnson died on September 24, 2026, at age 87.
Cause of death: Bert Johnson's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Bert Johnson known for?
He was an Australian rules footballer.
More about Bert Johnson
Born: 8 June 1939.
Gender: male.
Occupation: Australian rules football player.
Bert Johnson, an Australian rules footballer who played for West Adelaide and North Melbourne, died September 24, 2026, aged 87.
Born Bertram Harold “Bert” Johnson on June 8, 1939, he was an Indigenous Australian from Nepabunna Mission in rural South Australia. After coming to Adelaide, Johnson was taken by West Adelaide player Doug Thomas for a trial with the club.
He made his South Australian National Football League debut in the 1957 season and played mostly on the wing, while also being capable as a centreman. In 1961, he was on a wing in West Adelaide’s premiership-winning team, becoming the first Indigenous footballer to play in an SANFL premiership. Johnson later represented South Australia in interstate football in 1964 and also played for North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League. He has been described as one of the most exciting footballers of his generation. His career connected football in South Australia, where he began with West Adelaide, with the Victorian competition through North Melbourne. The 1961 premiership appearance remains a defining point in the record of his playing career, alongside his state representation and his ability to play both on the wing and at centre.