The lead-up to the AFL grand final has been punctuated by the somewhat unexpected news that 2019 Coleman Medallist Jeremy Cameron is leaving Greater Western Sydney, set to join one of the sides who will compete for the premiership on Saturday – the Cats.
The Giants released a statement confirming Cameron’s decision to exit the club on Monday and CEO Dave Matthews said on radio later that day that Cameron would be taking up an offer from Geelong.
Because of the calibre of the player alone, this move will be the biggest made this year and one of the biggest of the era. But it may also make free agency history.
Matthews also stated that it was “highly likely” the Giants would match Geelong’s offer to the restricted free agent and thereby force a trade – which, if the clubs go through the formal process, would be the first time that has ever occurred.
The closest we have come before was when Patrick Dangerfield joined Geelong five years ago, but the Cats and the Crows negotiated and submitted a trade without going through the formal offer-match process.
Patrick Dangerfield (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
We will probably see the same here – Geelong are renowned for their trade period professionalism and, if GWS indicate to them that they’ll match any offer made to Cameron, the Cats will presumably be happy to skip that rigamarole and go straight to the trade table once again.
Geelong have three first-round picks this year – 11, 13 and either 18 or 19 depending on the outcome of Saturday night’s grand final – plus their future 2021 pick and a handful of potentially movable players to offer. Compared to the best-case scenario of free agency compensation, which would be pick 9, it’s an easy decision.
Matthews indicated that while GWS had previously accepted two first-round picks in exchange for the likes of Adam Treloar or Dylan Shiel, they would expect even great compensation for the loss of Cameron given the difficulty of finding AFL-quality key forwards.
I would suspect that picks 11 and 13 is a starting point, and the Giants will still expect more beyond that. He could well be the first player ever traded for three first-rounders.
There’s no way other way to describe Cameron’s departure than as a devastating blow, one that could completely derail the development of the Giants’ talented list.
But there is, as Homer Simpson would say, some “crisi-tunity” in the situation – the chance to turn bad news into leverage and perhaps make changes that will revitalise the club after a difficult 12 months following their 2019 grand final defeat.
One positive for them is that while they will lose Cameron, they won’t want for key forwards. Jake Riccardi, Jeremy Finlayson and Harry Himmelberg can all play the role, even if none have shown themselves to be of Cameron’s calibre just yet.
While they’d certainly prefer to have Cameron as an option, GWS might find they can create a more unpredictable forward line mix with three dangerous targets, none of whom is the clear No.1. Opposition sides may find that challenging to defend against.
And Cameron’s depature – along with those of Zac Williams, Aidan Corr, Zac Langdon, Jackson Hately and perhaps Jye Caldwell and Xavier O’Halloran to come – should leave GWS with an abundance of draft capital and salary cap space with which to go shopping.
We already know they will secure Braydon Preuss from Melbourne, likely at a low trade cost, which should provide them with a dependable ruck option in the style of ruckman that they like – big and aggressive.
But there’ll be currency enough that they could look for other role-players too. A key defender would be great and they could look to pry someone like a Daniel Talia out of Adelaide to fill that role or perhaps Nathan Broad from Richmond.
One they’ve been linked to before is Luke Breust at Hawthorn, who – although he will be 30 next year – would provide another mature goalkicking option in their forward line.
Luke Breust (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Media/Getty Images)
The Giants have had some great success bringing in recruits over the years, such as with Heath Shaw, Shane Mumford and Steve Johnson. While losing Camerson is disappointing, and no doubt the biggest blow their list has suffered so far, perhaps it can prove to be a positive.
As for Geelong, they have pulled off a great coup, adding to their already star-studded team one of the best key forwards of the generation.
It’s been a long time since Tom Hawkins had a key forward of established quality to partner with, and the thought of he and Cameron in the same forward line next year is genuinely fearsome.
I wrote last week about Geelong’s ever-ongoing decision between topping up with mature recruits and going back to the draft, and regarding the prospect of them acquiring Cameron, had this to say:
“That Geelong are pursuing Cameron et al suggests they believe the continued addition of mature recruits is their best path. And if he is the calibre of player they can expect to see continuing to walk through the door, well, they may be right.”
If anything, that comment was far too understated.
This is the kind of outcome that (along with playing in a grand final this week!) completely vindicates Geelong’s list management strategy, and could see them remain a premiership threat for years to come.
Willie
Roar Rookie
Good luck with that, Sainters. One of the issues with both Crouch brothers and the Crows midfield generally has been the quality of possessions. A point that Hugh Greenwood skewered Mark Ricciutto with earlier this year, and then went on the collect more Brownlow points than the entire Crows midfield.
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
Yes, it was shocking decision by the club back then. Was so disappointed for Riewoldt after 2010. It was the one that got away and it demoralised the group. It has taken basically 10 years to recover from losing that grand final and leaving Moorabin. You wouldn’t see the good clubs do that. Imagine if Geelong stopped training at Kardinia or Richmond at Punt Road. It definitely damaged the culture and set the club back but fortunately things look on the up. The new facilities at Moorabin look great and it is a good selling point for the club. It appears the Saints finally have a decent board that has made the right decisions in the past few years. The only decision they really got wrong imo was giving Richo an extension but they quickly rectified this with bringing in Ratten. I just hope this year was not a false dawn for them and they can continue to get better next year. A lot to be optimistic about with them right now.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
West Coast would be better if it were called Perth really but same logic applies. I mean that makes more sense for Freemantle if the other team is called Perth. Cos really Freemantle is both Freemantle and West Coast. I just hope the AFL is not unconsciously de placing sporting entities away from human connection of location without thinking it through. West Coast works but it was not an expansion club so there is that difference. I suppose they (WC) could play some games in other state venues in the future maybe. They have 5 other cities over $25000 population.
Aus in Engerland
Roar Rookie
You say that 'Greater Western Sydney isn’t really a place'. Neither is West Coast a place, and they seem to have a pretty strong identity and level of success. But I agree that for a young guy the western suburbs of Sydney does not have the same attraction as Bondi or Manly for example. It is something they will struggle with forever. I can see them as a niche player at best and were only created for the Sydney potential TV revenue. And yes, Perth should have a Grand Final.
christy olsen
Roar Rookie
Nick Riewoldt actually mentioned the move out of Moorabin as a big reason the team slid down so horribly after 2010. The history and culture were lost.
christy olsen
Roar Rookie
There are some cultural and rules differences in pro sports in the US and Australia, and these differences change how free agency plays out in both sports. - Player salaries are not considered private in the US, so every player tries to get the biggest, most obnoxious deal possible. They always want to out-do the last record-breaking deal. Baseball is one of the worst, but all of them are pretty bad. (So, please, never switch to public salaries in AFL!) This reality alone really hurts the clubs that can't pay the huge money. - Players in the US tend to simply go and stay where the money is. It doesn't seem to make any difference which team a player loved as a kid or where they have to live to make the big money (being "homesick" is not a thing in the US). It's rare for a really good player to knock back a bigger offer in order to stay at his favorite club (which I think is sad; I wish love of the team were a bigger deal in US sports). - US players have almost no say in where they get traded. When a team wants to get rid of a guy, he's gone. Not much he can do, even if it means moving across the country in the middle of the season (another reason I really hate mid-season trading). - Generally, a player in the US doesn't talk publicly about which club he wants to get traded to. It might happen in private, but not often in the open. - In the US, there is no such thing as compensation from the league for losing a free agent (this is one of the most idiotic aspects of free agency in the AFL, but that's a different discussion). So all these things together, among others, make free agency in the US work differently from in the AFL. I really think the AFL have a chance to right the ship and find a balance between players' rights and competitive parity. I'd start by fostering the "one-club" mindset (something long gone in America) and keeping player salaries private. I don't know what else, but there's hope.
christy olsen
Roar Rookie
You have no idea what StK's "business model" is nor what a good one would be. Calling for the end of StK is a bunch of rot.
Cat
Roar Guru
All they had to do is shed a couple of players to get under the cap
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
What was made up about it? A bit of exaggeration maybe.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
I love when people insert their own made up narrative.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Yes, seems very fair...
Mark.
Roar Rookie
And then have to rearrange everyone’s contracts that have COLA already built in? Just admit you’re ignorant and move on.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Objectively incorrect. Pure nuff.
CCT
Guest
Just for the record, Geelong is not really in Victoria. It's in a state of its own - place you would never ever go except on route to the Great Ocean Road. And if there were a vote the vast majority of Victorians would be happy to see Richmond (the team not the suburb - the food's too good) relocated to Norfolk Island - although Dusty can stay. We could probably squeeze him into the Carlton squad.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Thats unfortunate mate, but there's always going to be excess deaths in the middle of a pandemic.
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Calls it as he sees it :thumbup:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Not a besmirchment on Chucka. He’s no Murali :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Love the Chucka
Vercetti1986'
Roar Rookie
Do you mean Morrabbin, where they now train? Don’t know if you been there mate but it a pretty low profile area but nice. The redevelopment of Morrabbin has been great and they should never have left in the first place.
Willie
Roar Rookie
He’ll face plenty of temptation in the local St Kilda area.
Willie
Roar Rookie
The Crows won’t want to match that. Better to find someone who actually wants to be there.