Jeremy Cameron has urged his talented younger teammates to continue to play with the youthful exuberance that has helped Geelong to a preliminary final in Saturday’s meeting with the Brisbane Lions.
The Cats team that belted Port Adelaide by 84 points had seven players making their first finals appearance, while former GWS Giant Tanner Bruhn featured in his first September appearance in the Hoops.
Geelong’s forward line has taken on a different look with Tom Hawkins injured and Gary Rohan out-of-favour before suffering a fractured skull in last week’s VFL semi-final loss.
“At this time of year, it’s nice to have a really good blend of youth in the side but experience as well, and you can feed off each other in different ways,” Cameron said.
“And, I think we’re doing that really well.
“I just think of Ollie Dempsey having fun, doing what he does on the wing, smiling at all times, playing his role extremely well – probably better than what a lot of us thought he could.
“But that’s just him. We don’t want him to go away from that – just keep having fun and doing your thing.
“Shauny Mannagh’s come in and played a huge role.
“It’s easy for me to speak about the forwards, but we’ve got a really good blend there as well.”
That blend is unlikely to feature Tom Hawkins, who appears to have run out of time to stake his claim for a return to the team ahead of retirement.
Sidelined since the Round 15 loss to Carlton, the 36-year-old’s absence has opened the door for Shannon Neale to show his wares.
In a career-best nine consecutive games, Neale has kicked 14.11 and is averaging 9.5 disposals and four marks – including a career-best nine against the Power.
“Scratcher’s been enormous for us; he provides a really big contest,” Cameron said.
“He’s such a big fella, and when he can launch at the ball, he’s hard to stop.
“He plays an important role.
“And Ollie Henry’s a different sort of player; he can really leap and take it as the highest point as well.
“But, he’s so dangerous, and on ground level as well, and very classy.”
Cameron says Hawkins is doing everything he can to get himself right for a crack at a fairytale finish to his career, providing his teammates with plenty of energy.
“He’s done everything he can possibly do,” Cameron said. “He’s in there working behind the scenes; he’s in the heat room.
“He’s doing everything he can to give himself a chance, and that’s all you can really ask for.
“It’s very lifting to walk down to the gym and see that, and that’s coming from someone… I’ve played a fair few seasons myself.
“So, I can only imagine what that’s doing for first, second, third, fourth-year players and beyond.”
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