Steve Johnson used to stand in front of Geelong's leadership group to explain himself - now captain Tom Harley thinks he could stand among them.

Harley is so impressed with his team-mate's much-publicised turnaround that he suggests Johnson one day might have an official leadership role within the team.

At the start of last year, Harley played a key role as the Cats gave Johnson an open-ended AFL suspension for another alcohol-fuelled misdemeanour.

It was a strong message that the enigmatic forward was on his last chance.

After five matches, Johnson was welcomed back into the fold.

By season's end, he had earned All-Australian selection and claimed the Norm Smith Medal as the best player afield in the Cats' drought-breaking grand final win.

In January, Johnson again attracted headlines for the wrong reasons when he was caught breaking the speed limit by more than 70kph.

But he has stayed out of trouble since, played in every game so far this season and on Monday received his second-straight All-Australian selection.

"To see him mature as a footballer has been fantastic, but to see him mature as a person over the last 18 months has been really rewarding," Harley said.

"He has as much impact as the leadership group - he's not in the leadership group, but I wouldn't be surprised in the coming years if he is.

"He's got that experience - if you want the bad egg reformed - and he's certainly moved on from that, he's an exemplary citizen and a fantastic footballer."

Johnson said he had not made any dramatic changes from last year and just aims to keep becoming a better player.

"It's just continuous improvement, trying to improve my footy and trying to stay as professional as I can, just like any other player does," he said.

"There's probably been no difference, really."

Harley said the beauty of Johnson's play - or the brutality, if you are an opponent - is that there is always an element of surprise about what he does.

"There's a handful of guys where you have to let them display their natural talents and Johnno certainly does that, he's the igniter within the team," Harley said.

"But I don't think he lairises as much as a lot of people think he does, he's very much a team player and he's right up there on goal assists, things like that.

"You don't promote that sort of thing, it's more the instinct of the game - he's a special talent, no doubt about it and a great pick-up for us."

Pressure also obviously does not bother Johnson - if anything, like Hawthorn star Lance Franklin, it only seems to make him play better.

Combine that with his awesome talent and you have a finals performer.

"I'm not sure (it's) to the same degree as Buddy Franklin, but I do enjoy playing in front of a bigger crowd, it seems to motivate me that little bit extra," Johnson said.

"I'm sure the players who aren't playing in the finals - a couple of them said (at the All-Australian awards) that they were a little bit jealous that they have to watch us now."

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