Contracts, connection, and a love of the contest: Darcy Cameron’s impact is real

3 months ago 20

In Collingwood’s final three home-and-away matches this season, ruckmen received 10 coaches’ votes.

Darcy Cameron was best on ground against the Crows, Collingwood’s qualifying final opponents, in round 23.

On either side of that match Melbourne’s Max Gawn and Hawthorn’s Lloyd Meek were given maximum coaches’ votes for their performances against Cameron.

Craig McRae has been a huge supporter of Darcy Cameron since joining the club.

It is a reflection of how important the ruck battle is in Collingwood matches, and underlines Cameron’s importance in Thursday night’s critical contest for a home preliminary final as he takes on Adelaide’s Reilly O’Brien.

Cameron, who finished second in the club’s best and fairest last season, has emerged as a vital cog in the Magpies’ machine. His form was superb throughout the season as he polled coaches’ votes in nine matches, was equal sixth for contested marks with 35, and was at one point considered a chance to make the All-Australian squad.

That he did so amid discussions about a contract extension he sometimes found frustrating (he was contracted until end of 2026), and amid serious interest from West Coast he showed his mettle as he often fought the opposition one-out in the demanding position.

Cameron admitted finally signing his new contract was a relief, although he never felt the difficulties in getting an extension, and an uplift in pay commensurate with his performance, impacted his output at the club.

“I might have got a little bit frustrated towards the end by the fact it wasn’t getting done,” Cameron admits.

“I wanted to put it behind me. [But] it wasn’t affecting my game or the way I was at the club.”

At the time, sources within the Magpies confirmed Cameron was too professional to drop his effort in any way, but as things dragged on teammates were becoming frustrated on his behalf.

There is a reason why. Cameron has a massive influence on the group’s mood – the ruckman’s ability to lift those around him appreciated by teammates and coaches.

Finals ruck battles will be critical to deciding the premiership.

It’s a trait he finds hard to explain, but he says Collingwood have helped him come out of his shell and be himself, which is why he never really wanted to depart the Magpies when other clubs came knocking.

It was no surprise Cameron was the player to take the microphone from Daryl Braithwaite to sing The Horses at the Collingwood function celebrating their 2023 premiership in a voice that made Tom Waits sound like a soprano.

“I just like to bring as much energy as I can to the club and try to make someone else’s day a little bit better and put a smile on their face, whether I’ve been going good or bad,” Cameron said.

“I feel like it’s a good thing to come back to get you out of your own head and get someone else out of their own head as well.”

His friendship with another heart-and-soul Brayden Maynard is well established, with their earthy combination of care and carry-on an important part of the team’s dynamic.

“We like to bounce off each other a lot,” Cameron said. “I’m really lucky to be in an environment where you’re allowed to be yourself. It’s a fun culture to be a part of. It’s not just me and ‘Bruz’ [Maynard]. There are a lot of big personalities here that we all love being around.”

Such fun will be on the backburner when Cameron faces O’Brien at the first bounce on Thursday night. The finals atmosphere will have an added edge after the fallout from the Magpies match there in round 23 when Cameron was best on ground.

He knows challenges will be thrown at him and his teammates but is up for the battle, aware that whichever team gets the ruck ascendancy will have a massive advantage.

Cameron has seen how much opponents are now deliberately trying to reduce his influence as his ability to get behind the ball and support the defence with his marking is so important to Collingwood’s defensive system.

“I’ve definitely noticed a big shift in that this year, people either kicking away from you or getting in your way [when] trying to get one down the line, similar to what they do to Max Gawn,” Cameron explained.

“He gets a lot of attention.

“That’s part of the game. We do it to other people as well and, if anything, it’s a bit of a compliment at the same time.”

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