Give Jeremy Cameron another AFL premiership over the ton any day – although the double would be nice.
The Geelong spearhead said he is unfussed whether he becomes the first player since Lance Franklin in 2008 to reach 100 goals in a season.
His path to triple figures stalled on Friday night, when Cameron sprayed 4.5 in the Cats’ 44-point win over Essendon. That took him to 79 for the season.
There had been anticipation Cameron could kick a bag against the undermanned Bombers defence.
Instead, teammate Shannon Neale booted the first three goals of the game, and Jayden Laverde and Mason Redman worked hard to curb Cameron’s influence.
“If it ever happened, I’m not going to pass off the 99th, pass off the 100th goal,” Cameron told the Seven Network post-match.
“If it happened, it would be awesome. I was out there when Buddy kicked his 1000th goal. That was awesome to be around, even though they beat us on that day.
“It is not something I want to sort of talk about too much because we have got a bigger picture and something in mind.
“I have been lucky enough to win a Coleman Medal and I have won a flag, and I would much rather the flag any day.”
Cats coach Chris Scott said after the game he is unsure how driven Cameron is to reach 100.
Geelong at times overshared the ball, especially going into attack, and Scott wondered how much of that was trying to load up Cameron.
“It’s rarely a problem when you have players who are looking to share the ball,” he said.
“But at halftime I did make the point – hey, if you’re in a position to kick the goal, just kick it.
“If he’s in a position where he’s kicking a lot of goals, it’s unlikely we’d come in and saying ‘geez we played poorly, even though Jez kicked eight’.
“He’s been kicking so well … when he misses them, it really stands out.”
The Cats are second on the ladder and play Sydney and Richmond before the finals, so the double chance beckons.
Scott’s twin brother and Essendon coach Brad was pleased that predictions of a Cameron goal deluge proved wrong.
“We were outplayed, but I didn’t think we let ourselves down in the contest,” he said.
“It did cross my mind that I didn’t want him to kick 25. That was a concern.”
Essendon’s injury problems continued, with Archie May suffering an ankle sprain and Luamon Lual nursing a sore back after he catapulted over Mark O’Connor and landed awkwardly.
Despite reservations from Scott, Bombers veteran Dylan Shiel is facing a one-match suspension after being referred directly to the tribunal for pushing O’Connor in the back and causing the incident with Lual.
“I’m not sure you can get suspended for hurting your own (teammate), but we’ll see,” the Essendon coach said.
