Greater Western Sydney powerhouse Jeremy Cameron leaves door ajar to return to Victoria
Mark Robinson
Herald Sun
May 26, 2014 11:00PM
EXCLUSIVE: JEREMY Cameron has opened the door to leaving the troubled Giants.
The budding superstar, who is estimated to be worth $1 million a season on the open market, has formally rejected Greater Western Sydney overtures to sign a new long-term deal.
Cameron is contracted until the end of the 2015, but the Herald Sun understands Cameron will decide at the end of the season if he stays at GWS or seeks a move home to Victoria.
GWS has tried several times to initiate talks, but Camerons manager Alex McDonald has told them contract talks were on hold.
If he decides to leave GWS, it would create a blockbuster trade frenzy not seen since Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd entertained four clubs in 2007 before eventually signing with the Blues.
Last year Cameron won the club best and fairest, was third in the Coleman Medal behind Hawk Jarryd Roughead and was named an All Australian in just second season in the AFL.
Victorian clubs have contacted McDonald asking about Camerons availability and what it would take to prise him from GWS.
A Lance Franklin-type deal perhaps as long as six or seven years is expected to be in the offing for Cameron by either GWS or a Victorian-based club.
The 21-year-old would command one of the richest contracts in football.
Any trade would likely include first-round draft choices and/or players.
If GWS decided not to trade Cameron, he could leave the club at the end of 2015 via the draft, which would mean GWS wouldnt get anything in return.
McDonald preferred not to comment yesterday, but its understood he and by extension Cameron are keen to learn of GWSs list management strategies, similar to the request Bryce Gibbs made of Carlton.
What also would be a strong consideration is how the club plans to play Cameron, Jonathon Patton and Tom Boyd in the same forward line or if, as they did at the weekend against Richmond, plan to develop Cameron as a key defender.
The ongoing issues of on-field success and playing in front of poor crowds will also form part of the decision.
Cameron hails from Dartmoor in Victorias southwest. He came to the Giants as a 17-year-old pre-draft special selection.
The Giants are enduring a horror period and have lost their past two matches by 100 points-plus.
The loss to Richmond was one of the worst in the clubs short history, prompting Giants chief executive David Matthews to write an open letter to the clubs members yesterday.
It was a very disappointing performance against Richmond. As our coach Leon Cameron said after the game, we let you down, Matthews said.
We believe we are making progress as our wins against the Swans and Melbourne earlier this season showed.
But our last two matches highlight that we still have a lot of work to do to bridge the gap between our best and worst.
We know we have a young developing side that will have its ups and downs. But you should not have to accept uncompetitive performances. And neither will we.
