George Johnston (Australian footballer)

George Henry Johnston (12 February 1877 – 11 August 1945) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton in its first-ever match (1897) in the Victorian Football League (VFL) competition, and with Prahran in its first-ever match (1899) in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) competition.

Family
The son of John Johnston (1836-1888), and Susannah Johnston (1844-1914), née Knight, George Henry Johnston was born in Sandridge, Victoria on 12 February 1877.

He married Edith Florence Button (1873-1933) in 1900. They had four children.

Carlton (VFL)
Recruited from the Albert Park Football Club, Johnston only played once for the Carlton Football Club: against Fitzroy, at the Brunswick Street Oval, on 8 May 1987, in the first-ever round of the new Victorian Football League (VFL) competition. Three weeks later he was cleared back to Albert Park.

Prahran (VFA)
Recruited from Albert Park, Johnston played in the first-ever match that Prahran played on its re-entry into the VFA against Richmond, at Toorak Park, on 6 May 1899  at full-back, and as the team's captain. He played in 17 matches (scoring 1 goal) in 1899, and in 5 matches (scoring 1 goal) in 1900.

Recognition
He was a Life Member of both the Prahran Football Club and the Victorian Football Association.

Military service
He enlisted in the First AIF in November 1915. He served overseas, and was wounded in action twice: in 1917, and in 1918.

Death
He died at the Repatriation General Hospital, Hobart, on 11 August 1945.