There is nothing more refreshing in the AFL then a young guy stamping his authority on a big stage. Moments when good players become great players; it sends a chill down our spine and leaves us breathless as spectators.
On the weekend two young players both stamped their mark on their respective games and should be a chance to be selected in the All-Australian team.
I’m talking about Jeremy Cameron and Chad Wingard, when the discussion has been generally that second-year players form will drop or not be as eye-catching as their debut season.
These two players have smashed that argument, and the stats really back them up in the discussion of whether they are worthy of All-Australian selection.
We will start with Jeremy Cameron; it’s always dangerous to make comparisons so early in a player’s career. But Cameron’s coach Kevin Sheedy has already compared the Giants forward to that of Richmond champion Royce Hart.
I’ve never agreed with comparing players, especially Cameron.
The kid is in just his second year of AFL and is already being compared to a four-time Richmond premiership player, Tasmanian and Richmond Team of the Century player, AFL Hall of Famer and Richmond Immortal.
For most it would be a burden to carry but it doesn’t appear to bother Cameron, who speaks with such modesty and gratitude for the opportunities he has been given so early in his career.
Stats-wise Cameron this year has been as good as any forward in the competition, and he is tied equal second for the Coleman medal with 54 goals for the season.
This in itself is an amazing accomplishment, playing as a young forward in a side that is usually expected to get smashed each week.
Out of the 174 goals that GWS has kicked Cameron has scored on average 30 percent of GWS’ total goals, most of the time he is able to manufacture them out of nothing as well.
An example of this was on the weekend when Cameron was 70 metres out from goal when he intercepted an errant Melbourne kick, he showed enough composure to assess the situation he was in, dummy his opponent and seal the game with a goal from 55 out.
Cameron is ranked 75th in the AFL for average marks a game (5.4) this shows his versatility in being able to produce the goods even though he isn’t receiving the service that other teams might get.
This will certainly change as GWS improve and they have already shown great improvement in their last month of football.
The last point on Cameron is that he kicks his goals against quality opposition, this year his goals have come in the form of seven against Collingwood, six and four-goal hauls against Essendon, bags of four goals against both Geelong and Hawthorn and three against Sydney.
So he really stands up when GWS play quality sides.
Wingard on the other hand has been an absolute favourite for the Port faithful this year; he has already improved his output greatly from last year where he averaged a modest 12.5 disposals a game, this year he already averages 22 disposals a game.
Many of you will say, ‘How does that warrant All-Australian selection?’
I’m a big believer in usage of the footy, it doesn’t matter how many times you can accumulate it in the back half when no one is tagging you, it’s whether or not what you do can impact a game.
Wingard showed no better example of how to impact a game then on Sunday afternoon in the showdown.
Port needed a goal with a minute on the clock and with all the momentum; Monfries sent a banana to 35 out directly in front. Cassisi was in a contested situation with Petrenko in a situation that looked certain to be punched away.
Wingard running at full tilt was able to drift across and take the mark, to go back and have a set shot at goal to win the game.
A lesser man would’ve cracked under the pressure, but showing all the poise of Tony Lockett in his prime, Wingard was able to slot the goal and win the game for the Power.
These are moments that make players, a big stage where gun players stamp their authority on a match.
Wingard is a true goal-kicking midfielder, it may be laughable but Wingard has kicked one more goal then Port Adelaide’s full forward Jay Schulz and is just three behind Eagles spearhead Jack Darling.
His total for the season is 35 and ranks him 13th in the race for the Coleman, impressive form for someone in their second year of AFL.
Wingard much like Cameron also delivers the goods against the stronger teams. When the Power beat Sydney earlier this year Wingard popped up at critical moments and kicked goals.
He put Port Adelaide back in front at the sixth minute of the last quarter when he kicked his second for the game; he bobbed up again in the 16th-minute mark and kicked his third to give the Power some breathing space when the game was in the balance.
While he may not be an accumulator like a Gary Ablett or a Dane Swan, he has shown that he is a proven match winner when he is at his best. Given he won’t be selected in the midfield as there is too much class already there.
Wingard deserves a bench spot, as he has been a solid contributor in the Power’s promising resurgence.
My prediction for their selection:
Jeremy Cameron: Half Forward Flank/Forward Pocket
Chad Wingard: Interchange
Radelaide
Guest
Some people are saying Thomas but if you check head to head stats Thomas has a slightly higher avg goals per game but all the other stats are heavily in Wingard's favour.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Cameron over Cloke should be a certainty, but as you say if the two power forwards in Roughead and Kennedy have the positions then maybe Cameron gets a bench spot. Roughead was brilliant while Franklin was out injured but his form against the Tigers was a little under what I expected from him. He should kick a bag against the hapless Saints on Friday night however... I like the list of inclusions that you have, especially Kieran Jack who has been an elite midfielder all year.
Steve J
Roar Guru
This year I can see at least 16 of the 2012 AA team not making it, maybe even as many as 19 given the injury to Luke McPharlin and the glut of quality mid fielders to compete with Pendlebury and Dangerfield. My outs for 2013 are Beau Waters Darren Glass Sean Dempster Ted Richards Grant Birchall Jobe Watson Dayne Beams Lance Franklin Cyril Rioli Stephen Milne Tom Hawkins Dean Cox Nic Natanui Scott Thompson (Adelaide) Brett Deledio Josh Kennedy (Sydney) Replacements should include a few of the following Josh Kennedy - WCE Lindsay Thomas Scott Thompson - NM Harry Taylor Michael Johnson Kieren Jack Sam MItchell Steve Johnson Will Minson Ryan Griffen Todd Goldstein Michael Barlow Nat Fyfe Travis Boak Callan Ward Roughead To name a few ... Jeremy Cameron is a consideration but should never be named in the pocket. I hate the fact that full forwards or ruckmen get named in the AA pocket when they never play that type of position. The AA team should have the two best power forwards (Kennedy and Roughead), two best small forwards (Thomas/Garlett/Walters) two best half forwards - (Stevie J / Chris Mayne). Inventing positions to cram in more big forwards makes the team look unbalanced and without any merit IMHO. But I am sure the numpties at AA central will lump in Cloke somewhere on the field
Steve J
Roar Guru
I would say Lindsay Thomas has been the best small forward in 2013 to date. Wingard will be pushed hard over the coming weeks by Michael Walters for the second spot. Even Jeff Garlett has a good claim to the AA, despite the weekend just gone.
Steve J
Roar Guru
Only three times has the Coleman medalist not been an AA full forward or centre half forward since 1991 J. Riewoldt - Richmond - 2012 - Hawkins and Franklin preferred (Pavlich was equal second and he was ignored as well) Cummings - West Coast - 1999 Lloyd and Carey preferred Gehrig - Saints - 2005 Hall and Pavlich preferred So it's not a West Coast thing that Cummings was ignored.
Radelaide
Guest
Wingard's numbers as a small forward are the best and yes Cameron should at least be on the bench.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
That was the year Scotty kicked 4 in the Qualifying final if I'm not mistaken? Plus as you added before with the whole playing out West debate Franko. Cummings played for West Coast.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Haha yes a spread of goal kickers seems to win teams games although Cameron's 7 well and truly kept GWS in the game against Collingwood. Notice Roughead's form has died since Franklin has returned?
Franko
Guest
I’ll give you an example (according to footywire) – The season 1999 Scott Cummings 95 goals Matthew Richardson 67 goals 1999 AA Team, Richo in a pocket, Cummings nowhere to be seen.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
On this years form alone, I wouldnt trade Cameron for either Roughead or Cloke. Kennedy has had an under-rated season. For me, I'd have Kennedy at FF and Cameron at CHF in the AA side. Its notable neither spearhead has been able to deliver that many wins for their side - it's almost like this 'spead of goalkickers' idea has something going for it :)
Franko
Guest
Cameron will easily walk in to the AA side, if not on ability alone, as a marketing tool for AFL funded GWS next year. Kennedy plays out West...
Troy Murray
Roar Rookie
Put Cameron in the West Coast Forward line and he would have already clinched the Coleman. The stats you have quoted are overall stats. If you have more opportunities then obviously your statistics will reflect this. There is no question that Cameron's statistics, given the limited opportunities afforded to him playing for a side that doesnt kick many goals, are far more impressive than those of Kennedy.
Jermayn
Guest
that is besides the point... AA selectors do NOT select based on how good you are compared to how bad your team is. They select on stats and unless you can dig something else out, Camerons stats are inferior to Josh Kennedy's based on what I have shown above.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Kane Cornes is an unbelievable player.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Would Kennedy kick as many goals in a GWS forward line? I think regarding where GWS is and how they have gone this year, the fact Cameron has as many goals as he does is astounding!
Franko
Guest
MILF - I'm not sure that Ling was the best in the modern era, I think Kane Cornes gives him a good run for his money, Lingey played in a very very good side. Kane has been AA twice 2005 & 2007. If taggers are considered this year, Kane has again shut down opposition players very well and averaged 27 touches for himself. Completly unbiased view from me of course.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
As a tough call I think Cloke misses out, either that or Cameron won't be selected. Too many times this year Cloke has been eccentric in front of goal. Cloke struggles when he is double teamed, most weekends this happens to Cameron, I couldn't see Cloke kicking many bags as a GWS forward. In regards to Wingard, Jermayn he has kicked more goals then both Walters and Motlop and averages more disposals then both of them. As for Thomas he averages double Thomas' possession count and is only 11 goals behind him for the season's total. It will be a headache for selectors though.
Jermayn
Guest
His stats have nothing on Josh Kennedy's... Your just selecting him because of the hype on him - put aside the romantic notion and select based on their season. Disposals: 229 v 188 (Kennedy) Marks: 123 v 91 (Kennedy) Contested Marks: 30 v 18 (Kennedy) Marks inside 50: 58 v 38 (Kennedy) Tackles: 62 v 25 (Kennedy) one percenters: 12 v 26 (Cameron) Inside 50m's: 47 v 51 (Cameron) Goals: 59 v 54 (Kennedy) Behinds: 20 v 20 Goal Assists: 13 v 9 (Kennedy) Goal Acc: 65.9 v 63.4 (Cameron) The person who is 'leading' the stats in that area is in brackets - if that makes sense.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
I agree with the whole forward pocket situation, normally it is the case where a "goal kicking" midfielder is selected in the forward pocket. The Cameron vs Kennedy debate is a good one, and their battle to win the Coleman will be a great tussle in the last few rounds of the season. Stats do lean in Cameron's favour and I am hoping the selectors are in the same boat as you or I.
Troy Murray
Roar Rookie
Whilst i agree that both Cameron and Wingard should be selected, i believe all those picked should be selected in the position they have played for the majority of the year. If you do not believe that Cameron, for example, can beat Kennedy for the Full Forward position then he does not deserve to be picked in the side. The All Australian side should consist of the best player in each position on the ground. If you are the second best Full Forward, then you should not be selected anywhere in the side (Other than perhaps the interchange). The midfield selection is going to be particularly tough. But i hope it wont be the case that some of the quality midfielders that do not make the midfield group of the AA side and not shuffled to forward pocket just to fit them in somewhere. Personally, i think Cameron deserves to be selected ahead of Kennedy in any case. His statistics are remarkable this season.