Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen says he never gave serious thought to leaving the Western Bulldogs and returning to WA, joking his parents didn’t even want him to move back to his home State.

Johannisen has experienced a whirlwind twelve months, playing a starring role in the Bulldogs’ drought-breaking premiership last September before coming under intense scrutiny at times this season.

The 24-year-old has struggled to cope with taggers that have limited his on-field impact in recent weeks and was forced to endure speculation surrounding his contract status before signing a bumper new five-year deal with the Bulldogs in June.

Johannisen hoped the contract meant he would remain at the Victorian club for the rest of his career.

“It’s been the craziest 12 months and I think I just need a bit of time to relax, but I couldn’t be happier signing for another five years,” Johannisen said.

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“It will probably make me a Bulldog for life.

“A lot of people were talking about it, but personally I always knew it was going to happen.

Play Video Ross Lyon explains his 'snitch culture' comments. The West Australian Video Ross Lyon explains his 'snitch culture' comments.

“Signing on the dotted line takes a little bit of weight off my shoulders, but I couldn’t be happier.”

Both West Coast and Fremantle were linked to plays for South African-born Johannisen, who grew up in Perth and was picked up by the Bulldogs from East Fremantle through the 2010 rookie draft.

But the dashing defender said he didn’t go close to leaving the Whitten Oval.

He put his drawn-out negotiations with the Bulldogs down to the length of the deal and waiting for the players’ new collective bargaining agreement with AFL to be signed off.

Asked if he had much contact with the WA clubs and if there was any interest expressed by the Eagles or Dockers, Johannisen said: “No, not at all.

“I’ve lived in Melbourne for the last seven years now.

“I love Melbourne, I love the football club and even my parents don’t even want me back in Perth, so it was always going to be the Dogs.”

Johannisen found himself in the headlines again this month when Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge took aim at the tactics of taggers trying to blunt the playmaker’s game.

Beveridge was particularly critical of Mark Hutchings, describing the West Coast midfielder’s physical approach behind play as “cowardly”.

Play Video Luke Shuey praises Mark Hutchings for shutting down the Norm Smith medallist. The West Australian Video Luke Shuey praises Mark Hutchings for shutting down the Norm Smith medallist.

Johannisen said he was learning to cope with the physical attention, but brushed off suggestions his opponents had crossed the line.

“It’s obviously been a new challenge for me,” Johannisen said.

“It’s been a bit different and it’s been a bumpy ride, but I think the support from my coaches and (teammates) has helped me start to overcome it.

“I’m able to prepare for it. I have to back my strengths and keep working on my game.

“We play a physical sport, so it’s nothing that we haven’t seen or done before.

“It’s just a bit of niggle and stuff like that, so it’s footy, really.”