Jeremy Cameron’s emergency baby plan to leave Round 1 blockbuster mid-game

Geelong star Jeremy Cameron says he has an emergency plan to leave his side’s blockbuster AFL season opener to be with his partner.

Jeremy Cameron with his partner.

Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron says he’s prepared to leave Friday’s Round 1 blockbuster against Collingwood midway through the game if he gets word his partner is in labour.

Cameron’s partner Indiana Putra is heavily pregnant and due to give birth to the couple’s first child between Rounds 1 and 2 of the AFL season, which kicks off on Thursday night.

Watch every match of every round of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

If the birth clashes with the game on Friday night, the Cats spearhead says he won’t play.

At this stage it’s likely Cameron will able to play in Geelong’s season opener against the Magpies, given the baby’s due date is after the match. The Cats play Carlton in Round 2.

“I have been pretty clear with the club and we have spoken about it a fair bit that if the (labour) happens (before the match) then I won’t be able to play,” Cameron said.

“But I am happy to go to the game (if that’s not the case).

“Right now it is completely normal and it’s just a waiting game. That is the hard thing about it — you never know when it will come.

“If the call comes at halftime, then that will be a decision that has to be made then.”

A player leaving mid-game to make a mad dash to be with their partner would be quite something.

Jeremy Cameron with partner Indiana Putra. Photo: Instagram.

Jeremy Cameron's partner Indiana is due any week. Photo: Instagram.

Demons veteran Nathan Jones missed out on Melbourne’s drought-breaking premiership in 2021 to witness the birth of twins.

Parramatta Eels halfback Mitch Moses made a huge sacrifice when he skipped the birth of his first child to play in the Eels’ NRL preliminary final win over the Cowboys in Townsville last year.

Cameron will join Geelong’s growing crew of dads, who famously dressed up as geriatrics for their Mad Monday celebrations after winning last year’s premiership in response to commentary about the number veterans aged over 30 in the team.

The Cats played the final with the oldest team to ever win a VFL/AFL premiership.

Geelong could be without both their key forwards for the season opener against Collingwood at the MCG.

While Cameron is in doubt, Tom Hawkins is no certainty to play as he is still recovering from pre-season foot surgery.

Jeremy Cameron and Indiana Putra at last year’s Brownlow Medal. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Jeremy Cameron could miss Round 1. Photo: Michael Klein

“Tom is training really well and hopefully we are both out there,” Cameron said.

“But if we’re not, I’m sure they (the coaches) have looked at it a few times throughout the week.

“We have a lot of guys that can play different roles, and I think we’re really lucky with that.

“We have some backmen that can go forward, we have new guys coming in and we have guys that play different roles coming in.

“Hopefully it doesn’t play out that way, but if it does, it will be a bit of a different looking forward line.”

With the two key forwards in doubt and new recruits Ollie Henry, Tanner Bruhn and Jack Bowes on board — it appears one of the AFL’s most bizarre streaks will continue.

In the history of the competition, the exact same team of 22 that won the Grand Final has never reunited to take the field for Round 1 the following year.