Jeremy Cameron could miss either of Geelong’s opening two games due to birth of first child

With a baby due in the next few weeks, Jeremy Cameron gives the latest on whether he will line up in blockbusters against Collingwood and Carlton.

Jeremy Cameron could miss either of Geelong’s opening games. Picture: Riley Lockett / AFL Victoria

Superstar Cat Jeremy Cameron‘s prospects of playing in the opening two rounds of the season remain in the air as he continues to wait on the birth of his first child.

Cameron said his partner Indi was due “around the Collingwood round 1 to Carlton round 2”.

Jeremy Cameron on the move. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

The dominant goalkicker said preparations for the new member of the Cameron clan were going well but “it’s more about getting the timing right which is something we can’t control”.

The 2021 Coleman medallist said last month that there would be no contest between playing and being with his family and he would miss a game if there was a clash.

That opens the door to Geelong playing without either of Cameron or his star running mate Tom Hawkins (foot), who continues to race the clock to be fit for round 1.

Reliable forward Brad Close will be there come round 1 but the half-forward has revealed he has plans to push for midfield minutes as his career grows.

One of the league’s best high half-forwards – a position that requires players to run hard up and down the field while often not getting the rewards of kicking goals – Close said he was keen to grow his game.

Brad Close dishes a handball. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Finding midfield minutes will not be easy for the South Australian with the Cats boasting one of the deepest brigades in the AFL.

“The midfield is something everyone wants to be a part of one day but I am loving playing forward,” he told SEN.

“If there is a few minutes I get to run up the ground then I will obviously enjoy it and it’s something I’d like to add to my game over coming years.”

Cameron singled out one of Geelong’s fresh-faced on-ballers, Tanner Bruhn, as a standout throughout the pre-season.

“He is a really good runner as well as a ball user so I have been impressed with what he has been able to do,” he said.

Duncan flies to Adelaide for calf treatment

Geelong veteran Mitch Duncan has flown to Adelaide to work on a calf complaint with renowned physio Steve Saunders but he will return to Victoria before round 1.

The hard-running Duncan has not been ruled out of facing Collingwood on March 17 but the Cats are committed to not rushing him back to play in the season opener.

Cats skipper Patrick Dangerfield told SEN on Wednesday morning that Duncan was “touch and go” for the MCG blockbuster.

Mitch Duncan. Picture: Alan Barber

Duncan first injured his calf in early February and has been completing large running sessions in recent weeks, including one earlier this week.

He will spend less than a week in South Australia with Saunders as he rounds out his pre-season.

Pre-season issues are not new for the experienced Cat, who missed round 1 last year with a calf injury but returned a week later and played 22 games on the way to a premiership.

Dangerfield was pessimistic on full-forward Tom Hawkins’ chances of facing the Magpies and said “I don’t think” the superstar will make it to the line.

Meanwhile, champion Cat Joel Selwood has been confirmed to return to the club in an off-field role.

The 2022 premiership skipper retired after last year’s grand final triumph and has since taken up a part-time leadership role with NRL powerhouse Melbourne Storm.

But Selwood will not be lost to Geelong this year and has taken up a job as an ambassador as well as spending time with the club’s membership team.

Selwood has also been linked to a role with the Australian men’s cricket team on its trip to England for the highly-anticipated Ashes series this winter.

Cats take long view on Jack Henry’s foot

Geelong is hopeful Jack Henry’s latest foot surgery can end his continuing woes after three injuries over the last 12 months.

The athletic defender had surgery in pre-season last year, then suffered a blow to the same foot in round 5 and missed 10 rounds.

Henry’s latest setback came last month when he landed awkwardly on his foot when playing against Hawthorn and underwent surgery last week in Queensland.

Jack Henry leaves the field in discomfort during the Hawthorn game Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

The 24-year-old will miss at least the first month of the season.

Geelong footy boss Simon Lloyd said the Cats were planning for this latest fix up to end Henry’s issues.

“The feedback we are getting from our medical team is positive, Jack is in a great frame of mind,” Lloyd said.

“He has worked through this kind of thing in the past and he is highly professional. Hopefully the interventions that have been put in place will stand up long term.

“With every player that is our focus, it’s not in the short term, it is always for the good of the player and life beyond football as well.

“We are always focuses on the long term.”

Geelong had troubles with recurring injuries last decade as players such as Nakia Cockatoo, Lincoln McCarthy and Cory Gregson struggled to find fitness over several years.

But the Cats were near-faultless last year on the way to a premiership and have managed their ageing players well in recent seasons.

Geelong players were given the weekend off for a breather before embarking on a heavy training week this week as the countdown begins to March 17’s season opener against Collingwood.

Originally published as Jeremy Cameron could miss either of Geelong’s opening two games due to birth of first child