GEELONG forward Jeremy Cameron is preparing as usual for Friday night’s season-opener against Collingwood as he waits for the birth of his first child.
Cameron’s partner Indi is due between the clash with the Magpies and the following Thursday’s clash with Carlton, with the reigning joint Carji Greeves medallist again confirming he will be at the birth.
“I’ve been pretty clear with the club, and we’ve spoken about it a fair bit, and if that (birth) happens, I won’t be able to play,” he said.
“Right now, it’s completely normal … it’s just a waiting game. The hard part about it (is) you just never know when it’s going to come. But it’s exciting for both of us.
“I’m just going to train and prepare like I’m going to play.
“If nothing changes, I’ll go to the ‘G and pull the boots on.
“If the call comes at half-time, that’ll be a decision that has to be made then.”
If Cameron is unavailable, Geelong could enter the meeting with Collingwood without its two leading goalkickers from 2022.
Fellow key forward Tom Hawkins is racing the clock to be right after an off-season toe reconstruction.
However, Cameron believes the Cats will have the firepower to kick a winning score if he and Hawkins don’t pull on the Hoops in front of a crowd the club hopes exceeds 90,000.
“Tom’s training well, and hopefully, we’re both out there,” he said.
“But, if we’re not, I’m sure the coaches (have) already looked at it a few times throughout the week.
“We have a lot of guys that can play different roles, and I think we’re really lucky with that.
“We’ve got some backmen who can go forward; we’ve got new guys coming in; we’ve got guys who can play different roles, and we can change things up.
“Hopefully, it doesn’t play out that way. But, if it does, it will be a bit of a different looking forward line.”
One of those new faces is former Magpie Ollie Henry, who has shown he can kick goals in his two years in the AFL.
The St Mary’s product has impressed Cameron since arriving at GMHBA Stadium in the off-season.
“What’s really stood out to me is his aerial work,” Cameron said.
“He’s like a medium-type player, but he plays really tall. He loves leaping at the ball, and he has no fear in the air, which is different.
“It’s really stood out over the pre-season.
“He finds his feet really well after an aerial contest and finds the ball at ground level as well.”
Twitter: @krockfootball
