Jeremy Cameron announces decision to leave GWS

The GWS Giants have responded to the “bombshell” news AFL superstar Jeremy Cameron has quit the club in its “most painful blow”.

Doomsday for GWS.

The GWS Giants have announced star forward Jeremy Cameron has left the club.

Following months of swirling rumours and brazen, public comments from Geelong officials to lure the goal-kicker to the Cats, the Giants finally confirmed Cameron will leave the club via free agency during the 2020 AFL Trade Period.

The club said Cameron will pursue his options as a restricted free agent — and GWS CEO Dave Matthews said on Monday evening the club will “highly likely” match Geelong’s offer in a bid to force the Cats to make a trade.

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The bitter blow for the Giants comes after the club’s 2020 season ended in a miserable failure to make the finals and star speedster Zac Williams announced his decision to join Carlton via free agency and Aidan Corr announced his intent to join North Melbourne.

According to reports, the Giants will likely receive the No. 10 overall pick at this year’s AFL Draft under the AFL’s free agency compensation rules.

However, Matthews reportedly believe he can get a better deal by matching the Cats’ offer and forcing them to the negotiating table.

“It’s highly likely that we will match the offer, so the ball is in Geelong’s court to see if they can satisfy us with a trade,” Matthews told 3AW radio.

The Cats have three first-round draft picks in the 2020 AFL Draft as a result of trading Tim Kelly to West Coast — and the Giants will reportedly push for at least two of them.

While the Giants can still receive a bounty of draft picks to let Cameron go, attention has turned to the club’s alarming future as a result of so many stars walking out the door this year.

Footy commentators have described Cameron’s departure as the club's lowest moment.

“What a bombshell to start grand final week,” footy reporter Jon Ralph told Fox Footy.

“This has turned into a disastrous year for GWS and at that stage he (Cameron) thought about his family, he thought about whether they were in a premiership window.

Jeremy Cameron will be Robin to Tom Hawkins’ Batman.

“It has the potential to rip the heart out of GWS.”

Ralph said the Giants have serious issues with star players choosing to leave despite the club offering them rich deals.

“In the space of four weeks they have seen Aidan Corr go. They have seen Zac Williams go. They have seen Jeremy Cameron go. All of them restricted free agents,” he said.

“Here’s the issue, neither of Williams or Cameron really left because of the financials. They were offered really healthy deals and weren’t offered significantly more at their new clubs.

“Now it just seems after that horror year that they’re not in that premiership window any more.

“You’ve got to feel like this is a significant moment in the history of the GWS footy club.”

AFL reporter Andrew Wu posted on Twitter: Jeremy Cameron leaving GWS has to be up there with 2019 GF & 2016 prelim as club’s most painful blows.

“Not just foundation Giant but original from 2011. Their first: All Australian, Coleman Medallist, superstar, poster boy for young fans. Plus leading goalkicker, B&F winner.”

The Giants admitted losing Cameron hurts.

Giants football manager Jason McCartney said: “We are disappointed by this news, having tabled what we believe to have been a suitable offer to retain Jeremy.

“With Jeremy being a restricted free agent, we have a number of avenues to now explore to get the best possible outcome for the Giants.”

While reports emerged in recent weeks Collingwood was also in the race for Cameron’s signature, reports emerged on Monday Cameron has already made his decision.

The Herald Sun reports Cameron has already told Geelong he wants to join the Cats in 2021. The 27-year-old leaves the Giants with a full season still to run on his contract.

“Jeremy Cameron picks the Geelong Cats. He told Leon Cameron about 40 minutes ago,” reporter Jay Clarke posted on Twitter.

The Age’s Michael Gleeson also reports Cameron’s first preference is Geelong.

The Giants had been desperate to keep its most prolific goalkicker and GWS football boss McCartney said recently talks between both parties had progressed, but there was “still a bit of work to go” to re-sign him.

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Jeremy Cameron.

Channel 7 AFL reporter Tom Browne said earlier this month Cameron had an offer in front of him from the Giants worth approximately $700,000 a season over five years — a total of $3.5 million.

However, the report claimed Cameron’s manager Alex McDonald had also been in contact with the Cats in “recent weeks and recent days”.

Cats CEO Brian Cook confirmed the swirling rumours surrounding his club’s interest in Cameron last week with a bold declaration.

“We’re trying to be a destination club and we’re getting a lot of managers knocking on our door and we have discussions with those managers and players,” Cook told Sportsday WA.

“We’re in the market big time at the moment for Jeremy Cameron. He’s struggling with making a decision. He’s a loyal bloke.

“You know the rules when you’ve been around for a long time – do you finish your career in one place or do you get tempted to go elsewhere.

“I think that’s a good character trait being demonstrated by him.

“We’re trying big time for that one. Outside of that there’s a few others we’re talking to, but we’ll just wait and see.”

Cameron has played 171 games for the club since joining the Giants as a 17-year old in 2010. In 2020 he played 17 games and kicked 24 goals.