Geelong are hopeful Jeremy Cameron will be fit to take on Carlton next week despite the star forward’s latest hamstring setback.
Cameron kicked three goals as the Cats posted a 41-point AFL win over Essendon on Friday but was substituted out of the match before halftime.
Geelong coach Chris Scott later admitted Cameron had an “iffy” right hamstring pre-game before being cleared to play by club medical staff.
The 28-year-old, who has a history of hamstring issues, then copped a cork up high in the same muscle and felt tightness lower down before taking himself out of the game.
“I would not be surprised at all, based on what I’ve heard, that he’ll be fine to train this week and play,” Scott said post-match.
(Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
“But if there’s something there that means there’s some risk then we’ll need to assess that and spend a bit more time on it.”
Cameron arrived at Geelong in a high-profile trade form GWS and had two hamstring injuries before playing his first home-and-away match for the Cats in Round 6.
He has kicked 28 goals in ten appearances, forming a dangerous forward line alongside Tom Hawkins and Gary Rohan.
Scott defended the Cats’ medical and conditioning staff in the wake of AFL-enforced cost-cutting in clubs’ footy departments.
“They’re probably overworked and under-resourced with the number of players we have and the challenges,” Scott said.
“I’ve got such admiration for them with the hours they put in, the commitment to their job and then they’ve got to make these brutally difficult decisions with key players.”
The Round 17 fixture is yet to be confirmed by the AFL, but Geelong expect to do battle with Carlton at the MCG on Saturday.
“I don’t think it’s locked in but I just work on what we’ve been told until we’re told otherwise,” Scott said.
IDeals22
Roar Rookie
Tragic story. There's a few like him. If Pierce can play injury free he would be in the conversation about the best key defenders in the game. But Freo's injuries are a concern.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
We'll have to drop one of our two remaining tall defenders.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Never a bullet...only a nerf ball.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Maybe Brisbane should recruit Anthony Morabito.
IDeals22
Roar Rookie
Geelong have some questions hanging over them. The turn around of Linc McCarthy's injuries (and career), since leaving is stark. It will be interesting to see if Nakia Cockatoo has a similar result. Going further back Matthew Egan sued Geelong over the career-ending handling of his foot injury. The handling of injuries to players like Jaegar O'Meara, Shaun Burgoine, Joe Daniher & McCarthy is certainly difficult and the difference in results at different clubs is concerning.
Ace
Roar Rookie
Have to say that if he has a test before the game for tightness in the hammy he should have been withdrawn . They could have had big Ratugolea as an emergency. Now he should miss four weeks as a minimum particularly as he is now stringing (excuse pun) a few together
Cat
Roar Guru
I’ll wait for an actual medical report instead of making a storm in a teacup like others.
I’d keep until then
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Good dodge of a Bullet by the sounds of it Yatz
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
If it is a hammy, it is minor. I saw him run to the bench. He should be right for finals in any case.
Cameron a beauty hope for Geelong sake he fit when matters maybe put him in cotton wool abit hate seeing players good too watch hurt from any clubs
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
I know it’s not fashionable to be truthful in the coach’s press conference, but I think they were. A knee to the upper thy causing a painful corky.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Got two first names, can’t trust him.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Same with injections over the yarra river.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
He didn’t look to be in too much pain last night. But the fact that he was grabbing around the origin of the hamstring muscles doesn’t bode well (hamstring is a misnomer there are actually three hamstring muscles, semi tendinosus, semi membranosus, and biceps femoris).
DingoGray
Roar Guru
It always looks a bit funny when a player has a "Fitness test" before the match and then is later ruled out of said game with an injury.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Get well soon Jezza. Such a creative player.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Why would they take the slightest chance of injury by playing him against the Blues?
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
Cameron is a great player, and would be a big loss in coming weeks. Freo and Richmond would be glad he is not playing for four weeks.