Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Geelong legend Tom Hawkins has dismissed concerns over a banged-up Jeremy Cameron’s value to the Cats’ AFL premiership push.
Hawkins concedes Cameron is “clearly hampered” by lingering arm, shoulder and hip issues that have troubled him throughout a difficult season.
But he believes his former tag-team partner and premiership teammate can still have a significant impact in Friday night’s cut-throat semi-final against Fremantle.
“You’re setting the fear of God into an opposition when you’ve got Jeremy on fire deep in the forward line,” Hawkins told AAP on Thursday.
“He might not be at that absolute best, but I still think he can provide goal-scoring opportunities.
“I’d love to see him be rotated deep, high half-forward and on the wing, and throw different things at the opposition.”
In his second game back from shoulder surgery, Cameron had only nine disposals while playing mainly on the wing and in defence in last week’s elimination final win over Carlton.
The 33-year-old has managed just 39 goals this season, his lowest tally since an injury-interrupted first season with the Cats in 2021.
“He’s clearly hampered by the arm and shoulder injury that he’s coming back from,” Hawkins said.
“Even at not 100 per cent fitness, is he still playable in your side? Absolutely, because he doesn’t rely on winning the ball in contests.
“He can find different ways of winning the footy. He has value playing up the ground.”
Hawkins also backed Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield to stand tall, amid doubts over the 36-year-old’s ability to back up the finals masterclass he produced against Carlton.
Critics have highlighted Dangerfield’s flat grand final last year after his brilliant preliminary final.
“Champion players rise for champion occasions, so I expect him to do that,” Hawkins said.
“I hope he hasn’t done much this week. He would’ve taken pretty good care of himself, I reckon, and just be priming himself for another go at it.”
Hawkins expects Geelong to implement parts of the “blueprint” Hawthorn provided when upsetting minor premiers Fremantle in Perth in their qualifying final.
In particular, he tipped the Cats to ramp up their pressure around the contest and attempt to take the corridor away from the Dockers.
But the former goal-kicking champion also expects Fremantle’s big forwards Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Patrick Voss to bounce back after they were collectively held to just two majors by the Hawks.
“The Cats can be vulnerable if the ball gets through their first and second layers of defence,” Hawkins said.
“They’ve got the stocks behind there … but I’d be surprised if they have two weeks in a row where all three of those key forwards don’t fire.”
Hawkins won three premierships in his stellar 359-game career with Geelong and while his heart still lies with the Cats, his head expects Chris Scott’s men to drop out of the flag race this week.
“If they’re good enough to win this weekend, I still think we’ll see a Brisbane-Freo grand final,” Hawkins said.
“If Geelong can’t be in it, I’m pretty neutral as a supporter nowadays, I’d like to see Hawthorn.
“But I think Freo and Brisbane are still the best on their day.”
