As we all know, Jeremy Cameron has just re-signed with the Greater Western Sydney Giants for five years on a whopping four million dollar contract. But let’s take a look and see what it means for the young struggling club still in its infancy.
I’ve been on record as saying that they will struggle to attract big fish or retain the really good ones, and after losing a number one draft pick and potential star, and a financial loss for the club, things certainly looked bleak.
Luring Ryan Griffen to the club in part of the trade for Tom Boyd was a good get for the club. Now they have landed the big fish – only who thought the big fish was actually one of their own.
Cameron is on his way to being a star of the competition. He’s been the Giants’ leading goalkicker and all three of their seasons including 62 in 2013 in a side that only won a few games, while also earning himself and the club’s first all Australian gong. Miraculous stuff indeed.
Cameron’s re-signing is significant in that now they have a gun big man to build this team around and secretly I’m sure AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan and his team were secretly smiling when he re-signed.
What it also means is that Cameron not only believes that success is coming to the Giants but that he wants to lead that charge, and that he also believes in his coach Leon Cameron. There is only Dylan Shiel, Adam Treloar and Stephen Coniglio remaining to re-sign, and if they can lock away two or maybe all of them then they could be tracking north fairly quickly.
While most people think the Gold Coast Suns are the next powerhouse I think the Giants might just win a premiership before them. The Suns don’t have a big gun forward capable of winning games off his own boot and the Giants have at least one in Cameron, maybe two if Jonathon Patton gets his body right
Martin Berghofer
Roar Rookie
Well said Steve love your work mate and GO THE SWANS
Harry
Guest
Josh, You are a soothsayer. a critic and naysayer all wrapped up into one. Contribute something useful or find another posting site...
clipper
Guest
Don't think they ever thought they'd steamroll the NRL in their heartland area - not like in the eastern suburbs, but you''re right the A league have blindsided them both out in the WS.
clipper
Guest
They're not in the top 8 - they're at the bottom for crowds in Melbourne, like GWS are for crowds in Sydney and still require $6 million a year hand outs, even though they are privately owned. Can't argue about the numerous Grand Finals - perhaps GWS crowds will go up when they get to that stage.
pat malone
Guest
in the top 8? i would say over the last ten years they have averaged about 12th?
peeeko
Roar Guru
still there could be better places to put the money if it doesnt work out
Josh
Guest
Haha there's the old (new) 'dominating is not their aim'. RUBBISH, that was their aim from day 1, thinking they'd steamroll the NRL but blindsided by the A League.
Josh
Guest
wrong, no, no and no.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Storm are in the top 8 for average crowds, are privately owned and have won numerous Grand Finals. A slightly different scenario I would think.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Junior registration numbers in WS have been rising 10% per year for the last couple of years, a real sustainable junior league is starting to materialise, if the Giants manage to win a few more games those numbers and interest will rise again. Eventually the team will find it's place and level within the sports pecking order in WS and become part of the furniture.
clipper
Guest
If they can average what the lowest crowd pulling Sydney club is and aren't draining more than 6-10 million a year, they can count that as a success - the Melbourne Storm can't manage that, but there's no talk of pulling them.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Josh why are you commenting on the AFL thread? You offer nothing of substance. Stay angry champ and keep watching those Wanderers holding up the A-League ladder with 1 solitary win for the year.
Avatar
Roar Guru
Great news for the Giants going forward. Who needs Buddy when you've got Jezza?
Avatar
Roar Guru
"St Kilda hasn’t for nearly 40 years..." CORRECTION: Nearly half a century.
LordBrucie
Guest
This is great news for the Giants who are building nicely for the future. The fact is that the club is gradually building a loyal fanbase and signing the biggest young star in the Comp for another 5 years will only help that grow. The AFL never thought that the Giants would dominate western Sydney and that is not their aim. Their aim is have a truely national comp and they now have that which is great. The future for the Giants and AFL in Sydney looks bright.
Radelaide
Guest
Crows offered him $1.2 mil over 5 years in preparation of a salary cap increase and the very possible departure of Dangerfield, by all reports he has a close bond with his team mates and likes the anonymity.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
20 years, 30 years, or even 100 years - why does it matter? It's the AFL's money, and they are hardly short of a crust.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Cameron has signed on for 5 years on a contract worth more than $4 million ($800,000+ per annum). We don't know what Adelaide offered, but it was a 7 year deal for a higher per annum average value. I think the Giants have done very well because Cameron is already a proven performer, despite his relative young years. My club signed Tom Boyd (from GWS) at almost $1 million per annum on a 7 year deal and he is only 19 years old and has played less than 10 games.
Josh
Guest
Hahahaha keep moving those goalposts AR, lock in D Eddie '40 year plan'. ps. I take offence at the tittle of this piece, this team is not 'Western Sydney'.
Max
Guest
The Giants need a few hard nosed defenders - of course Cassandra Tim Lane writing in the Age this morning adds fuel to the fire that they wont survive - he stlll hasnt got over the fact that The AFL have put teams in the north rather than his native Tasmania and it helps certain sources for him to keep reliving that grudge. He says they cant make a profit after spending $20m annually - seems high but footy clubs dont make a profit per se on spending - some of it is capital for the future to attract 2m people in western Sydney its a small investment to get into a lucrative market which will result in bigger TV $$$. Other sports have started clubs and folded without the world falling in...