GWS forward Jeremy Cameron isn’t feeling any finals pressure
Misfiring Giants star Jeremy Cameron denies he’s feeling the pinch heading into Saturday’s epic final at ANZ Stadium.
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Misfiring Giants star Jeremy Cameron denies he’s feeling the pinch heading into Saturday’s epic final at ANZ Stadium.
The GWS super boot might have had a solid 49 goal season, but he’s now gone seven straight matches without taking home a bag.
Not since round 16 has Cameron kicked five or more in a match, a worrying lean patch for a franchise player who, as the club’s top scorer for five years running, prides himself on leading from the front.
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Results this year would suggest it takes near 100-point efforts to topple this champion Sydney Swans side spearheaded by Lance Franklin’s (74 goals) potency upfront and anchored by a dogged defensive line that features Cameron’s likely marksman, Dane Rampe.
Only the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn have managed to beat Sydney with less than a ton on the board.
There’s no doubt the signing of premiership-winning great Steve Johnson has taken some pressure off Cameron this season, but experts including Matthew Lloyd believe the Giants don’t stand a chance of scoring the points required to trouble Sydney unless Cameron can rediscover his mojo.
Cameron freely admits he’s been inconsistent in 2016 but insists he remains confident in front of goal despite the uncharted territory of finals football.
“I feel pretty relaxed and I don’t really feel the pressure too much,” said Cameron.
“It’s going to be interesting to see if that changes this weekend but I’m sure as long as you stick to your routine and go back it’s all about the team finishing off the hard work that’s been done up the field.
“I’ve been up and down at times I think … it’s something where I’ve sat down with the coaches and had a good look at so I feel quite confident going into finals.
“I had a bit of a strange start to the season where I got suspended for four games but I think that’s really starting to help now. I actually feel quite fresh now really coming into finals.”
As fresh as he feels, Cameron may not have been able to play if the final was played last Saturday — so knocked out was he by a severe bout of the flu.
Cameron says he hasn’t paid too much attention to where he sits on the goal scoring table this season (seventh overall), adamant his role has changed somewhat due to an evolving GWS forward line that’s welcomed Johnson, let loose Toby Greene and seen Jon Patton blossom in recent weeks.
Cameron has been somewhat of a flagship player for the Giants, but he has played down the leadership role he’ll have to play against Sydney — comfortable that veteran Johnson is the man to show the way.
“It all comes back to just playing the role I guess,” he said.
“At times I haven’t kicked many goals at all in games but I’ve tried to play my role in the side. It doesn’t really matter who it’s (who features on the scoreboard), as long as we get that reward.
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“We’re thankful to have (Johnson) in our side, he can teach us a lot. Not only out there among it on game day, but he can also sit down with you at the computer and take you through your footage.
“That’s very important especially going into your first finals campaign where the majority of the group haven’t played a final.
“The main message has been just to enjoy it and treat it like it could be your last.”
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