AFL: Charlie Cameron kicked five goals in 2017 preliminary final and is out for a repeat performance for Brisbane this weekend
Charlie Cameron has done his homework on his likely Geelong opponent and after torching the Cats in the 2017 preliminary final the Brisbane superstar is ready to do it again.
AFL
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Brisbane Lions star Charlie Cameron knows the entire football world is watching and has no choice but to play well in Saturday night’s preliminary final showdown with Geelong.
Cameron is just one of four Brisbane players with preliminary final experience among the expected Lions outfit shooting for a place in a historic home Grand Final.
“I’ve got to perform because everyone’s watching,” Cameron said this week.
“There’s a lot on the line at the moment. If you lose you’re out, but we’re confident.”
Finals confidence isn’t an issue for Cameron, who starred for the Adelaide Crows in their 2017 preliminary final win over Geelong at the Adelaide Oval.
Cameron kicked five goals that night as the Crows crushed the Cats by 61 points, driven by the opportunity every footballer craves.
“We know what’s up for grabs. The boys are ready to go and just itching to play, but we’ve got to stay calm and be patient,” Cameron said, explaining what’s needed to again beat Geelong on Saturday.
Cameron wasn’t nearly as productive when Geelong beat Brisbane by 27 points at the SCG in July, kicking just a single goal and a couple of behinds.
Contained by much-improved Cats defender Mark O’Connor on that occasion, Cameron expects the Irishman from County Kerry to be his opponent again this weekend.
But this time, Cameron is ready.
You wanted more, so here it is! ðŸ˜
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) October 11, 2020
We mic'd up some of the boys for training during the week 🎤 pic.twitter.com/AsVLaIBO42
“He did a good job on me, but I’m looking forward to the match-up. I did my research last week on him,” Cameron said.
He said the key to getting the better of O’Connor was to drag him up the ground.
“I played a lot deeper in that game (at the SCG),” Cameron said.
“But with Dylan Grimes (in Brisbane’s qualifying win over Richmond) I played higher.”
With success too. Cameron’s performance included three goals from 11 disposals in a massive finals victory for the Lions which showed the AFL world Brisbane is the real deal.
“Against Richmond they threw a couple of punches at us but we responded. We’re not shy even though we’re a young and inexperienced group,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to the opportunity of playing against another good side. We’re not going to shy away from the contest.
“As long as we go out there with the right mindset, as long as we’re switched on and do everything we can to prepare well for Geelong this weekend ... we’re pretty confident.”
Cameron said the Lions’ recent lack of football – they have only played once since their September 19 win over Carlton – would not be a problem.
“We had a good (internal) hitout last Saturday, and we needed that,” he said.
“Obviously it’s high stakes but ... we’re going to go out there and give it our best shot.”
Originally published as AFL: Charlie Cameron kicked five goals in 2017 preliminary final and is out for a repeat performance for Brisbane this weekend