The art of kicking bags was deemed dead, but nobody told Jeremy Cameron.
The 26-year-old has started season 2019 in electric form, converting 30 majors from seven games and already has a commanding 13-goal lead from second in the Coleman Medal race.
Averaging 4.3 goals a game, the calculators have come out to see whether the Giants star can be the first player to reach three-figures since Lance Franklin’s 113 goal season in 2008.
Standing at 196cm and 94kg, the versatile left-footer is extremely threatening when the ball is on the ground, making him so difficult to play against.
So far this year, Cameron has only been held under four goals twice and hasn’t left the field with less than three, including bags of six and seven.
Whilst comprehensively leading the Coleman Medal, Cameron is also leading the competition for marks inside 50 (29 at 4.1) and score involvements (65 at 9.3).
Coming from a non-Victorian expansion club, Cameron’s form has avoided the microscope. But since joining the competition in 2012, he has led Greater Western Sydney’s goalkicking in every season (7), already three more times than revolutionary St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt.
The Dartmoor junior has swiftly moved up the goal kicking rankings without drawing much attention – from 157 games, Cameron has 357 career goals, proving he is worth every cent of his million-dollar salary.
Since 2010, the highest goal tally including finals is 82, shared by West Coast’s Josh Kennedy (2016) and Sydney’s Lance Franklin (2011), a feat which Cameron is on target to obliterate if his form continues.
If Cameron was to stoop to a 3.5 goal per game average in the home-and-away season alone, his fast start would still be rewarded with the highest goalkicking record since the dawn of the new decade.
Coaches will unquestionably be analysing the key forward to try and contain him, but if Cameron maintains his current average, it will take 24 matches to reach the 100 goal milestone. With GWS currently looking at another finals berth, 24 matches isn’t an unrealistic possibility.
In the next four weeks, the Giants face Hawthorn, Carlton, Melbourne and Gold Coast, all sides currently sitting outside the top eight and struggling to contain big scores. Ultimately meaning supporters can still dream of another chance to storm the hallowed turf in September.
Dean
Guest
He has more chance than anybody in recent memory. If he remains relatively injury free and stays away from suspension than there is no reason why he can't give it a good crack. It's amazing how the last person to kick a ton was a 21 year old kid in his fourth season, makes me wonder why we make excuses for slow development in big talls today.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Jeremy Cameron is the closest thing I've seen to Jonathan Brown in full flight since the man himself And I mean that warts and all. Not a fan of his disciplinary record but he's that good people will overlook it
Gecko
Roar Pro
Yes, Cameron's achievements so far this year deserve more attention. The new 6,6,6 rule seems to be benefiting the more mobile full forwards, and Cameron has both mobility and height. He's a difficult one-on-one match-up, particularly now that it's harder for opposition teams to drop an extra man back to block his space.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I was initially going to write that despite the best start to the season for any goal kicker for a very long time, he was still looking slightly short of being able to make the ton - but when you highlighted the next four teams the giants are playing....
DingoGray
Roar Guru
You would have to say he's not going to be able to sustain his current level of output. Someone is going to clamp him down here and there. I reckon he's looking around the 80 Mark.
Raimond
Roar Guru
He'll probably fall just short. Avoiding suspensions would help his cause.