AFL Daily: Geelong keen on GWS forward Jeremy Cameron
One Victorian club is eyeing Greater Western Sydney superstar Jeremy Cameron as part of it's key forward succession plan but it may not be the only one bidding for his signature. RECAP TODAY'S FOOTY NEWS
Geelong is eyeing Greater Western Sydney superstar Jeremy Cameron as part of the club’s long-term succession plan for veteran spearhead Tom Hawkins.
Cameron, 26, looms as the No. 1 key forward target for the Cats as they look to replenish their ageing key position stocks including 30-year-old Hawkins in coming years.
Cameron, from Dartmoor a small country town in western Victoria, has produced dazzling form in the first six rounds and is red-hot favourite to win the Coleman Medal.
The 196cm full forward would be an ideal replacement option for Hawkins next year when Cameron will emerge as the league’s most in-demand free agent.
Importantly, GWS want to sign Cameron this year to cut-off attempts from rivals to poach him for nothing next season.
The Giants last year held preliminary talks with Cameron’s manager, Alex McDonald, and will ramp up talks on another extension over the next few months.
But GWS is certain to face another salary cap squeeze as the Giants try and fit in monster deals for re-signed onball jet Josh Kelly, free agent Stephen Coniglio, silky playmaker Lachie Whitfield and Cameron.
They could all command about $1 million a year, taking up as much as 20-25 per cent of the Giants’ $12.76 million salary cap.
The Cats will be proactive as they look to find replacements for versatile tall Henderson, who is out of contract this season,as well as veterans Harry Taylor and Hawkins (both out 2020).
Geelong could back-end a deal for Cameron and offer him a package similar to the one which landed Patrick Dangerfield at the end of 2016.
Geelong coach Chris Scott last week said the club “have a (recruiting) bias towards players from the region”.
“We have a pretty strong history of tending to favour players from the area, particularly the country boys,” Scott said.
“In many cases, those guys feel a bit more comfortable down at Geelong, (because) it’s got more of a regional feel than anyother club in the competition.”
Under free agency rules, players can join new clubs without costing anything in a trade after eight seasons.
If Cameron decides to put off talks and return home to Victoria, the Cats are certain to face stiff competition for Cameron’s signature, including Hawthorn.
The Hawks are looking for a replacement for premiership great Jarryd Roughead and have been linked to fellow Giants’ bigman Jon Patton.
Geelong will be prepared for another request from star midfielder Tim Kelly to return home to Western Australia at the end of the season.
West Coast and Fremantle are both keen on the gun ballwinner.
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Originally published as AFL Daily: Geelong keen on GWS forward Jeremy Cameron
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