GWS Giants facing finals run without Jeremy Cameron

Leon Cameron is plotting how best to ensure his side remains in finals contention during Jermey Cameron’s absence.

Greater Western Sydney's Jeremy Cameron catches Brisbane's Harris Andrews with his elbow.

As Jeremy Cameron awaits his fate at the AFL Tribunal tonight, Giants coach Leon Cameron will be plotting how best to ensure his side remains in finals contention during the star’s absence.

The former All Australian was referred to the tribunal as expected by match review officer Michael Christian yesterday for elbowing Brisbane’s Harris Andrews during Saturday’s clash at the Gabba.

The Lions revealed that Andrew will miss at least two weeks and possibly more after it was found the key defender had suffered internal bleeding to his brain from an act that drew widespread condemnation.

Andrews received stitches for a cut jaw during the match but was rushed to hospital on Saturday night after becoming violently ill at home.

Brisbane’s football manager David Noble said the 21-year-old will require another scan in a fortnight as neurosurgeons monitor his recovery.

Noble said initial discussions with doctors have been positive in regards to the defender’s prospects for full recovery, despite the uncertainty surrounding his return to football.

Christian assessed the contact made by Cameron as intentional, severe and high and had no option other than to refer the Giants leading goalkicker to the tribunal tonight.

“No decisions are easy,” Christian said. “We went through the process, as we do with every incident … and came up with the view that it was to be graded as intentional and certainly on the basis that a raised elbow or forearm is usually conclusive that a strike is intentional.”

He said the medical update provided by Brisbane was taken into account when grading the impact severe.

Cameron was banned for four weeks for breaking the jaw of Lions midfielder Rhys Mathieson in 2016. Given the outline of the case against him, a longer suspension is anticipated tonight.

The issue for the Giants is finding a forward capable of replacing the 25-year-old, but also adjusting to his absence.

Fox Footy football analyst David King yesterday said the Giants’ best-and-fairest in 2013 is preferred as their target in attack in 30 per cent of the club’s forward entries. The left-footer has kicked 35 goals from 12 matches this year at an average comparable to 2013, when he booted 62 goals, and 2015, when he kicked a career-best 63.

In a season when the Giants have been hit hard by injuries, only three of Cameron’s teammates have managed to reach double figures in terms of goals kicked, making his prolonged absence even more problematic.

Zac Langdon and Ryan Griffen have kicked 12 goals each, while Stephen Coniglio has booted 10.

Last season Cameron, Jon Patton and Toby Greene shared goalkicking honours with 45, while nine other players reached double figures.

Steve Johnson, who booted 21 goals, has retired; Devon Smith, who kicked 15, is now starring with Essendon; Greene has been injured and Patton is struggling for his best form.

The Giants have claimed their past three matches and sit half a win outside the eight in 10th position ahead of a pivotal clash against Hawthorn at Spotless Stadium on Saturday night.

A trip to Perth to play West Coast follows before the Giants host Richmond. They round out a month critical to their chances of playing finals for the third year in succession with an interstate clash against Port Adelaide.

In other disciplinary news, Carlton veteran Dale Thomas has been issued with a one-week ban for an off-the-ball bump that flattened Levi Greenwood on Sunday, with the Magpie left concussed.

Brownlow Medal fancy Shaun Higgins received a $2000 fine for striking Josh Dunkley late in the Kangaroos’ thrilling win over the Western Bulldogs.