GWS gun Cameron good again after form dip

GWS forward Jeremy Cameron cheerfully admits form-wise he took a few weeks off during the AFL season and says criticism of his lack-of-tackle pressure is warranted.

The Giants spearhead leads the Coleman Medal count with 48, five ahead of the Kangaroos’ Ben Brown, but after kicking 30 goals by round seven his output and form dipped.

He went goalless in successive games and kicked just ten over a six-match period.

“I took a few weeks off there for a while, didn’t I?” quipped Cameron at Wednesday’s announcement that the Giants had cracked the 30,000-members mark for the first time.

“My body feels really good and that’s the main thing.

“This time last year I was sitting out for five games and I was really disappointed with that, so to play every game so far has been great for me and hopefully I can continue that.”

Only once in seven previous seasons has 26-year-old Cameron played every game, with suspensions and injuries invariably sidelining him for multiple matches near the end of most campaigns.

“I feel like I’ve developed a little bit each year and in previous years I’ve let myself down with suspensions and stuff,” Cameron said.

Long regarded as one of the code’s most talented forwards, Cameron has twice kicked over 60 goals, but has yet to win a Coleman.

He’s more concerned about improving his team’s poor form, with GWS dropping to sixth ahead of Saturday’s home game with second-placed Collingwood.

‘We’ve lost three in a row and it’s something we want to turn around quickly, so there’s a lot more important things I need to be focusing on,” he said.

One consistent criticism aimed at Cameron and the other GWS forwards, especially their talls, is their lack of tackle pressure compared to counterparts at other clubs.

“I don’t think that’s unfair at all,” Cameron said.

“Personally I’ve been a little bit disappointed with that area of my game, it’s an area I want to improve in.”

Cameron only averages 1.5 tackles a game across his career and didn’t register any in seven of the 16 matches he’s played this year.

He said GWS were trying to tweak and sharpen some aspects of their game going into Saturday’s match.

“You really find out where you’re at against the better sides and our run at the moment is a really challenging one,” he said.

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