GWS Giants excited at prospect of Harry Himmelberg, Jeremy Cameron fowardline combination

HARRY Himmelberg has stunned in his ability to fill Jeremy Cameron’s shoes, now GWS’s premiership tilt may hinge on the combination between young gun and returning star.

Harry Himmelberg celebrates a goal against St Kilda.

HARRY Himmelberg has stunned in his ability to fill Jeremy Cameron’s shoes, now GWS Giants’ premiership tilt may hinge on the combination between young gun and star.

That’s the opinion of Giants’ forwards coach Brad Miller who will pour his focus this week into that exciting dynamic as Cameron prepares to return from his five-week suspension against Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Miller believes the silver lining of Cameron’s ban has been the emergence of 22-year-old Himmelberg into an AFL match-winner in the forward line.

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Himmelberg kicked four goals against St Kilda on the weekend and the tall forward has announced himself in a period of time in which experts expected the Giants to drop out of finals contention.

However, Miller says the next challenge is how Himmelberg and the club’s No.1 goalscorer Cameron can together take the Giants to the next level as they eye a spot in the AFL top four.

“Those two need to form a real chemistry and synergy with each other,” Miller told The Daily Telegraph.

Harry Himmelberg celebrates a goal.

Jeremy Cameron returns after five weeks.

“When you take a focal point like Jeremy out, sometimes a player just needs a little bit of a nudge like that for him to really start to believe in his ability at the level and to take the next step.

“That’s what I think we’ve seen with Harry. His challenge will be can he maintain that form while Jeremy is back in there and to be able to really get the potency we’ve seen.”

Himmelberg kicked four goals in last year’s preliminary finals loss against Richmond - also in Cameron’s absence - but it’s been his form surge the past five weeks that’s really stamped his authority on the AFL.

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Miller said he sat Himmelberg down and told him that Cameron’s misfortune was his opportunity.

“I was really bullish about what Harry Himmelberg could possibly produce (after the suspension was announced),” said Miller.

“He’s been developing nicely throughout the year and I presented it to Harry as an opportunity for him to put his best foot forward and I feel he’s really done that over the last four or five weeks, he’s been fantastic.

Harry Himmelberg celebrates a goal.

“That culminated in the four goals on the weekend but it’s been what he’s been doing (every week).

“In the air, not being outmarked and constantly giving us a contest. All of that he’s been building throughout the season and has really culminated in some good form without Jeremy there.

“That was the way I presented it. Obviously Rory Lobb came back in for the Hawthorn game and had an impact straight away so while we did lose Jeremy who is a really good player and Ryan Griffen as well, it just provided opportunities for other guys.”

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Originally published as GWS Giants excited at prospect of Harry Himmelberg, Jeremy Cameron fowardline combination