Matthew Lloyd calls for Jeremy Cameron to take a giant pay cut

Jeremy Cameron’s form slump has come at the worst possible time and created a dilemma for GWS, with Matthew Lloyd declaring the Giants forward should be offered a reduced contract.

Matthew Lloyd says Jeremy Cameron hasn’t given the Giants bang for buck. Picture: Michael Klein

Jeremy Cameron is the highest paid player in the AFL … but for how long.

The GWS Giants’ superstar is in the midst of a worrying form slump, prompting champion Essendon forward Matthew Lloyd to declare the off-contract Cameron does not deserve another $1 million contract.

It is shaping as a huge dilemma for the Giants who are understandably desperate to re-sign one of their franchise players, but must be wary about over-paying, particularly when key backman Zac Williams is also off contract and being hunted by rivals.

Clubs often struggle with stars who shine in contract year, only to go off the boil in the years’ after the deal is done.

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But the Giants’ have the opposite problem with Cameron, in he has struggled for form during negotiations having last year produced a career-best season as the AFL’s Coleman medallist.

Cameron looks set for a haircut on his reported $1.5 million pay packet in the new COVID-19 era, as Lloyd gave a scathing assessment of the 27-year-old’s attitude and effort.

“Why would you pay someone $1.2 million if he’s going to be hot and cold in his effort,” Lloyd said on Channel 9.

“If you pay someone over $1 million dollars to Dustin Martin or to a Dangerfield, (it’s) because you know what they get week in, week out.

“At the moment Jeremy is picking and choosing when he wants to compete. There was so many opportunities where he could have brought the ball to ground (against West Coast).

“His head wasn’t in the game. That’s a real risk.

Jeremy Cameron, the AFL’s highest paid player, is in a form slump. Picture: Getty Images

“Across this whole season he hasn’t been able to get out of his form slump because his attitude hasn’t been right to play the game.

“It’s a big thing. I wouldn’t pay him over $1 million next year. I’d give him a massive pay cut. We’re in the climate where we need to. On his performance he doesn’t deserve to be in the top 10 players in the game let alone the highest which he might be this year.”

According to Champion Data, Cameron is struggling to replicate his impressive numbers from last season – down on ranking points, disposals, marks, forward 50 marks, score involvements and goals.

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Lloyd compared Cameron’s output this year to no-frills Fremantle forward Matt Taberner who would be well outside the AFL’s top 100 highest paid players.

Taberner is rated as elite for disposals, contested marks, marks inside 50 and goals this season, and has left Cameron in the shade.

Meanwhile, GWS Giants will be without former captain Callan Ward for a month following his horrific finger dislocation, which came through the skin.

It’s a best-case scenario for Ward after he was cleared of tendon damage.

“There’s no other structural damage in there, so no tendon damage and no fracture so that’s the best possible outcome for Cal,” said GWS head of medical, Cullan Ball.

“We think he’ll probably miss around a month.”

GWS are hopeful star midfield tagger Matt de Boer (hamstring) will return to boost the midfield against his former club Fremantle on Saturday.

Originally published as Matthew Lloyd calls for Jeremy Cameron to take a giant pay cut