GWS Giants unearth a bargain buy in Jeremy Finlayson

An experiment to trial Jeremy Finlayson alongside Jeremy Cameron in the forward line has been a masterstroke for GWS. BEN HORNE looks at the rise of one of the AFL’s most unlikely forward stars.

It’s all about the Jeremys at GWS.

The Jeremy fated for AFL greatness, who is now fulfilling his potential as the overwhelming Coleman Medal favourite.

And equally, the Jeremy the ­Giants picked up off “eBay”.

Tongues are wagging about Jeremy Cameron’s Midas touch following his stunning 30-goal start to the season, but AFL greats are heralding the “unearthing of gold” in Jeremy Finlayson as the true eureka ­moment for the high-flying Giants.

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Finlayson could have been bound for the AFL scrapheap when he was claimed off the rookie list by GWS as a backman.

But an experiment to trial Finlayson alongside Cameron in the forward line in round three has been a masterstroke.

The 23-year-old has kicked 13 invaluable goals, including two more in the first quarter against St Kilda on Saturday.

Giants coach Leon Cameron said continuity in the forward line had been a problem in the past but Cameron’s ability to seamlessly combine with fellow talls Finlayson and Harry Himmelberg had been as crucial as the star’s individual haul.

Jeremy Cameron takes a mark against the Giants. Picture: Getty Images

Fox Footy AFL greats Gerard Healy and David King christened Finlayson the “eBay” star and said he had come from nowhere to establish himself as a dangerous forward line deputy for which rival clubs would “give up draft picks”.

Finlayson credits his emergence to Giants assistant Mark McVeigh for delivering some “brutal” lessons.

“I’m a country kid and one thing I had to work on was my workrate,” he said. “Being from the country you just rock up and play footy, you don’t train (seriously) or anything. Mark McVeigh got me going. He was pretty brutal to me on the pathway.

“I just thought AFL footy was like, ‘right, I’ve got the skill, that should pretty much get me there’. But he was brutal and honest, delivered the message the way it should be delivered and didn’t beat around the bush.”

Jeremy Finlayson tackles St Kilda’s Seb Ross. Picture: Getty Images

GWS have had some great forward contributors in Steve Johnson, Jon Patton and Toby Greene.

But have the Giants ever gelled as successfully up front as a combination?

“I reckon it’s the dynamic we’ve got going down there,” Finlayson said.

“And we’re all enjoying footy, which is letting us play the way we are.”

Leon Cameron described Finlayson’s addition to fellow talls Cameron and Himmelberg as vital.

“We all know how it’s unfolded,” he said.

“It unfolded in round three and he kicked five goals (against Richmond) and the rest is history.

“It’s fallen across our lap even though we did discuss it over pre-season. For Jeremy and Harry to kick two each and Jeremy Cameron to kick six, it’s a good return from your three tall forwards.

“The thing I like about the three of them is their agility to play on the ground. They do score from ground level, but they also have an appetite to get after the opposition and put pressure on.”