‘It doesn’t bother me’: Leon Cameron unfazed by contract speculation

Greater Western Sydney Giants coach Leon Cameron says he won’t let speculation about his future distract him from the task at hand.

Leon Cameron is not worried about contract talk. Picture: Cameron Spencer/AFL Photos/Getty Images

GWS Giants senior coach Leon Cameron insists he won’t allow speculation about his future to faze him after putting contract negotiations on hold until the end of the season.

Cameron, who is out of contract at the end of 2022, put himself in the crosshairs after last week’s win over Gold Coast, the first for the Giants this year, when he revealed he and club officials had agreed to put off negotiations.

Last year, the Giants made the best of a tough run of injuries and finished sixth on the ladder. They entered the new season with high expectations but lost their opening two games to Sydney and Richmond.

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But on Wednesday, Cameron insisted he could handle the pressure should the Giants underperform, doubling down on his decision to delay contract talks.

“I’d love to sit here and say we’re going to win the next 18 in a row, then I’d be a genius, but we know there’s going to be speculation,” said Cameron, who led the Giants to the 2019 grand final.

“That’s always going be there. It’s heightened when you lose, when you lose poorly or you lose a couple in a row, but that is what it is.

“I’ve been dealing with that for a number of years.

“In this job you’ve got to be able to deal with what comes your way in terms of that scrutiny.

“It’s a high-pressure job and one that I enjoy, but by the time we get around to the weekend I’m fully focused on footy, so that doesn’t bother me.”

Leon Cameron won’t let speculation about his future distract him from his duties at the Giants. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Cameron’s comments came amid speculation Essendon champion James Hird, who joined the Giants as a leadership adviser at the start of the year, could be primed to take over from Cameron should the club look to make a change.

Hird’s job with the Giants is his first official AFL position since resigning as coach of the Bombers in 2015 and he was on hand at training on Wednesday in Sydney.

“It’s a part-time role and very much around the leadership group but also around the emerging leaders and sharing my experiences in football and trying to get them to lead and encourage and work hard on that side of things,” Hird previously said of his role with the Giants.

The Bombers finished each of Hird’s first three seasons in charge with a win rate of 50 per cent or better, but his time at the club was overshadowed by a highly publicised supplements saga.

The Giants are looking to put a 0-2 start to the season behind them. Picture: Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

After dropping their first two games, the Giants have the chance to notch back-to-back wins when they travel to Perth to face Fremantle on Saturday.

“Fremantle are clearly in really good form at 2-1 and had a really solid performance against the Eagles last week,” Cameron said.

“We’re under no illusions about the magnitude of the game we play this weekend.

“It’s huge for us and we need to apply that same sort of pressure and contested method.”

Originally published as ‘It doesn’t bother me’: Leon Cameron unfazed by contract speculation