A discussion over Geelong star Jeremy Cameron’s selection turned tense on Monday night’s On the Couch as Cats assistant coach Nathan Buckley weighed in.
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With repeat clips from Friday’s elimination final win over Carlton played, four-time premiership winner Jordan Lewis and triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt both questioned Cameron’s best role at a time they believe he is not 100% fit.
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Statistics showed Cameron spent just 24% of game time forward in that win over the Blues – the majority of his time (73%) was on the wing.
Jeremy Cameron speaks to Geelong staff at training.Source: News Corp Australia
But that led to a tense back and forth between Lewis and Riewoldt on one couch and Jonathan Brown and Buckley, who was adamant the Cats superstar was ready to go.
Replay the discussion:
JACK RIEWOLDT: “The one thing that everyone is dialling in on is Jeremy Cameron.
“Obviously suffered that horrific AC injury against the GWS Giants, but his output and where he’s been played at the moment, on the wing … if you’re sitting in the opposition coaching box and see Jeremy Cameron on the wing – and what is an injured Jeremy Cameron – we know he’s got that broken arm still from last year’s grand final hasn’t set back in place. Clearly that is still hampering him.
“His efficiency, my belief is that he’s got to play ahead of the ball.
“You see efforts where he clearly is protecting his arm and not only is he protecting his arm now, it’s starting to affect the confidence of this superstar that fully fit is Jeremy Cameron.
“There’s a belief that he wants to get back in front of the ball – but at the moment, these efforts … you can’t play him on the wing.
“Someone’s going to take him deep soon and he’s going to have to defend in the backline – could that be Hayden Young this week.
“You just think maybe selection is starting to be questioned for Jeremy Cameron.”
Jack Riewoldt and Jordan Lewis were united in their criticism of Cats star Jeremy Cameron.Source: FOX SPORTS
JORDAN LEWIS: “I think it’s a concern.
“You’re right in terms of where he was playing.
“He was playing wing and then at times swapping forward with (Mark) Blicavs and trying to lose his opponent and set forward of the ball.
“And I wonder subconsciously whether the players are not kicking him the ball.
“I mean, he was open a lot of the times as well, but yet not being used.
“So, if I’m Geelong and he plays this week, and I know you (turns to Buckley) are smiling over there, you’ve got to look for him to give him the ball because he’s not great in the contest.”
NATHAN BUCKLEY: “It’s just funny sitting here having the insight that I have listening to you two talk about it.”
RIEWOLDT: “We can only go on what we see.”
Brown and Buckley back Jeremy Cameron | 02:08
BUCKLEY: “I know, but if you’re coaching, I’m guaranteeing you’re playing Jeremy Cameron. And you’re playing him … LEWIS: “Under what circumstances, though? If you’ve got a player that can’t contest … BUCKLEY: “Pretty much under any circumstances.”
LEWIS: “He can’t contest forward of the ball!”
RIEWOLDT: “He’s playing with one arm at the moment though.”
JONATHAN BROWN: “Would you two boys drop him?”
LEWIS: “I’d seriously consider selection, yeah.”
RIEWOLDT: “If he’s not in front of the ball, and you want to play him on the wing, I’d be finding a different alternative for mine.”
Jonathan Brown and Nathan Buckley react on the opposite couch.Source: FOX SPORTS
BROWN: “What about the scoring though? Because it hasn’t hurt them.
“Since he’s gone to the wing and all that it sort of hasn’t hurt. I don’t want this to be couch against couch, by the way. We can if you want out the back in the carpark later on (laughs) … (to Buckley) you take the Warrnambool boy – they’re pretty tough those Warrnambool boys.
“I’ll take the Tassie boy.”
BUCKLEY: “The question about him playing forward, like this probably sort of puts a little bit of perspective in it. So since he’s been out of the forward line, it’s actually performed pretty well.
“So the question then is ‘how do you best utilise Jeremy?’ and there’s a plan in place, and (coach Chris) Scotty mentioned that on 360 before our show …” RIEWOLDT: “He also mentioned that he’s nursing him too.”
BUCKLEY: “He has.”
Cats confident Cameron can recover form | 01:09
RIEWOLDT: “So is he fit and firing, ready to go?”
BUCKLEY: “He’s absolutely ready to go.”
RIEWOLDT: “Is he 100%?”
BUCKLEY: “Absolutely.”
BROWN: “Are you downplaying how hard it is to play forward? You’re saying play forward because he’s clearly injured – mate, you’ve got to have everything going for you playing forward because that’s where you cop the most contact.
“You can play out on the wing (nursing an injury).” BUCKLEY: “….and I will make the point that the last time he was questioned, I think he kicked 10 goals that week. So just keep going, boys.”
Jeremy Cameron (left) leaves the field.Source: Getty Images
LEWIS: “That’s fine. But on the evidence on the weekend, it’s hard to overlook that. In the contest.
“But time will tell.
“I think taking on what Chris Scott said, he may play a lot more forward. I think it’s going to be a challenge.
“We obviously don’t know the deal. But just from watching him, it seems like he’s clearly playing injured and clearly we’re not getting the best of Jeremy Cameron.”