AFL grand final: Isaac Quaynor on Charlie Cameron revenge and Jack Ginnivan’s return to the best 22

Charlie Cameron has dominated the Pies and Isaac Quaynor this year. The young Magpie is keen on putting that to a stop today, plus he opens up on his counselling for close mate Jack Ginnivan.

Collingwood stopper Isaac Quaynor is determined to exact the ultimate revenge on Brisbane Lions speedster Charlie Cameron in Saturday’s premiership decider.

Cameron, 29, has booted 10 goals against the Magpies in two meetings this year – both of which were largely comprised of direct match-ups on Quaynor.

Come Saturday, the Collingwood defender said he was determined to turn the tables on the All-Australian.

“Oh yeah. Yeah, big time,” he said of the fuel to avenge the previous clashes.

“It’s like the (me against) Toby Greene conversation – people don’t stop talking about that, even though it was like three years ago.

“People have a good memory and like to bring stuff like that up, and this would be the best way of shutting all that down.”

Charlie Cameron has beaten Isaac Quaynor in recent meetings. Picture: Getty Images

He forecast a “system” defence on Cameron and his fellow potent Lions forwards, admitting “we don’t really have the answer yet” on how to stop him in his tracks.

“I think what we’ve done the first two times which hasn’t worked is that I’ve had a bit more of a direct match-up on him,” Quaynor said.

“Although it hurts my ego, he’s got me good a couple of times.

“Potentially (I’ll be on him) at parts throughout the game, but we play a system defence, so I think there’ll be a few boys who will roll through and play on him at times.

“But as everyone knows, he’s a star of the competition. So we’ve got to make sure we’re aware of what he can bring to the table, and how we can try and stop that.”

Quaynor is out to make sure Cameron doesn’t have his usual impact against the Pies. Picture: Getty Images

Quaynor’s close friend Jack Ginnivan has been sensationally recalled into the Magpies’ starting 22 after playing both finals as the substitute.

Ginnivan’s season started belatedly after an illicit drugs ban, playing 13 games from round 5 onwards and including a stint on the sidelines between rounds 11 and 20.

It hasn’t been easy, Quaynor revealed.

“It’s unreal (for him). He’s put in a power of work – especially in the second half of the year – to fight back for his spot,” he said.

“At times, he kind of lost a little bit of hope and I always was like, ‘just trust me, I can feel that you’re just going to be able to break in’.

“For him to be able to do that on grand final day, it’s amazing, to be in the actual 22 is so cool. And I know that the Magpie Army will love him being out there. If he kicks a goal at any point throughout the game, it’ll turn them absolutely bananas.”

Quaynor and Ginnivan at training during grand final week. Picture: Getty Images

Quaynor said he had tried to counsel Ginnivan at times, describing him as “the most talked about player in the AFL”.

“I was someone there just to support and listen to him vent if he needed to or anything like that,” he said.

“I just always had confidence that he was going to be able to bring his strengths and that that would be enough.

“He’s an AFL player, he always has been. It was just where it fitted and now he’s back in.

“What he’s done is gone back and worked hard on getting better and trying to prove it on the footy field. I think he’s done that so, so well by his training standards in the last two or three months and the way he’s been able to play when he’s been sub in this finals series.”

Originally published as AFL grand final: Isaac Quaynor on Charlie Cameron revenge and Jack Ginnivan’s return to the best 22