Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron is confident Jeremy Cameron will break out of his goal-scoring funk soon.
Cameron is averaging just 1.5 goals per game this season – the worst return of his nine-year AFL career.
The 27-year-old was scoreless from eight disposals in last week’s loss to West Coast.
After the match, Essendon great Matthew Lloyd criticised Cameron for not showing more fight to at least bring the ball to ground in marking contests.
Cameron is out of contract at season’s end, and Lloyd questioned whether the spearhead was worth $1 million-plus per season anymore.
Leon Cameron feels the star forward has been a bit hard done by, rating Cameron’s recent efforts as “first class” and labelling him an “ultimate team player”.
Cameron said a big part of the problem was the team’s wayward entries inside 50m.
“You can have form in two ways – one is effort, and one is output,” Cameron said ahead of Saturday’s clash with Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
“The output is not there on the scoreboard, but the effort is there.
“So if he continues to do that I think it will turn for him.
“His defensive run, his ability to go back and help our defence (has been great).
“We need to get our connection right so that he can hit that scoreboard and kick … his two or three goals that reward the effort he’s showing.”
A two-game losing streak has seen GWS (6-6) slip to 11th on the ladder, leaving their finals hopes precariously placed.
Former Hawthorn star Shane Crawford predicts the Giants’ premiership window is now closed, saying Gold Coast are better placed to win a flag within the next five years.
Cameron said he doesn’t believe in premiership windows, and he’s determined to get the Giants back into the flag mix this year.
GWS will face a stern test on Saturday against a Fremantle outfit that conceded just two goals in last week’s win over Sydney.
The Giants will be without former skipper Callan Ward, who will miss about four weeks with a finger injury.
But former Docker Matt de Boer is a good chance to return after overcoming a hamstring injury.