Jeremy Cameron and Chris Scott reflect on Cats star’s trade move ahead of his 250th game

When Chris Scott was urged to pursue Jeremy Cameron early on in his career, he thought there was no hope. Ahead of game 250, Cameron and his coach look back on that defining trade.

Geelong Chris Scott recalls a word of advice from one of his top defenders early in Jeremy Cameron’s career.

Geelong and GWS faced off in a practice game early and that Cats player had the task of stopping the young Giant.

“I won’t name him, but he played on Jeremy that day and he said, ‘I don’t know if you know about this guy, but anything you can do to get him to the Cats...,” Scott said.

“And we were like, ‘I think everyone knows him mate, there is no chance of that ever happening’.”

Sure enough, the Cats got what Scott described as a “one in a million possibility” at the end of 2020 to lure the goalkicking machine to the club.

Cameron, who plays his 250th career game this weekend, had the difficult choice between staying at the Giants, or leaving to Geelong or Collingwood.

“I must admit there is a bit of an extra twinge I guess when the idea of Jeremy started to become a bit more real, because as I said the odds of getting one of the truly elite players of the competition are generally pretty low,” Scott said.

“But at the same time you don’t want to overreach because there is always an equation that has to make sense for your club, it is never at all costs. If ever there was that situation, it was probably Jeremy.”

Jeremy Cameron plays his 250th game on Saturday. Picture: Brad Fleet

The Dartmoor product chose to join the Cats with a premiership firmly in his sights, the Cats giving up picks 13, 15, 20 and a future fourth rounder, and receiving two second rounders along with one of the competition’s best key forwards.

After the Cats were denied a premiership that year by a Dustin Martin masterclass, Scott was determined to make good on Cameron’s leap of faith.

“We really respect the ones that take the chance to move clubs because Jeremy couldn’t have possibly known exactly who we were and how we went about it,” Scott said.

“You can’t guarantee the on-field performance, but we were pretty confident that we’d get that part improving if we added Jeremy to our list.

“There has been a few times over the last decade or so when players come in, but few have had the impact on our excitement levels in the way Jeremy has.”

The Cats and Cameron both lived up to their end of the bargain inside two seasons as the dangerous forward kicked 65 goals in their 2022 premiership year.

“It was tough at that stage but I made the decision knowing I wanted to win a grand final, it wasn’t just to relocate closer to home, I was coming down here wanting to win a grand final and several if you can,” Cameron said.

“That was always in the back of my mind but it was tough at the time but as soon as I made the decision and met everyone around the club, you’re out there in the community and whatnot, I felt a real sense of being home pretty much straight away.”

Jeremy Cameron of the Cats cracks a can to celebrate a 4th quarter goal in the grand final. Picture: Michael Klein

WHAT LIES AHEAD

The typically laid-back and casual ‘Jezza’ is treating game 250 just like any other.

“Mitch Duncan often messages me to make sure I know what time the game is because I’ve got that slightly wrong a couple of times. I’ve never looked too far ahead,” he said with a laugh.

“I haven’t really reflected on (the milestone) it too much, it is probably something that I’ll reflect on more towards the end of my career or after I’ve finished, but it is a lot of games. I’ve had an interesting sort of journey starting off at the Giants for a lot of my first years and coming down here and settling in it has been great.

“You don’t reach these milestones alone, it is your family, your friends, your coaching staff over the years, over a period of time, that help you get to this stage in your career – and life in general.”

Cameron played 171 of his soon to be 250 games at the Giants, and Scott is hopeful he will spend half of his overall career at the Cats.

The Coleman medallist is contracted until the end of 2025 and he feels he has plenty of footy left in him.

His on-field work backs that up, with his matchwinning six-goal haul last Saturday showing how important the 31-year-old still is to the Cats.

Could he get to 350 like his partner in crime Tom Hawkins?

“I’m really enjoying my football and I think that’s the most important thing. I really enjoy coming to the club every day and working with the boys to get better each and every week,” Cameron said.

“Pre-seasons are getting slightly longer I feel but the actual love for the game and playing is what drives me, so everyone hopes to play for as long as Tom has.

“Being back closer to family is always good, but the family away from (your) family when you’re inside the club, it has always been so warm and welcoming for me and the family.

“And it is nice to be settled in down here just on the outskirts of Geelong.

“But it has been a really good four years and I’m enjoying looking forward, I can’t wait for what’s to come.”

Originally published as Jeremy Cameron and Chris Scott reflect on Cats star’s trade move ahead of his 250th game