Geelong confirms 'big time' interest in Giants spearhead
Geelong are stepping up their chase for Jeremy Cameron with Cats chief executive Brian Cook declaring they want the star Greater Western Sydney forward "big time".
The 2019 Coleman medallist, Cameron is yet to re-sign with the Giants having played his entire 171-game AFL career at the expansion club.
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Cook admits Geelong are trying to become a "destination club" and snaring one of the game's best tall forwards would help achieve that.
"We're in the market big time at the moment for Jeremy Cameron. He's struggling with making a decision. He's a loyal bloke," Cook told Sportsday WA radio.
"You know the rules when you've been around for a long time - do you finish your career in one place or do you get tempted to go elsewhere.
"I think that's a good character trait being demonstrated by him. We're trying big time for that one."
Geelong would be a frightening proposition for rival clubs if Cameron is to join them and team up with veteran Cats forward Tom Hawkins.
Cameron struggled this season, as did GWS, kicking just 24 goals down from a career-high 76 last year.
But the 27-year-old has kicked 427 goals since debuting for the Giants in 2012 and is one of the game's most dangerous forwards when firing.
There are only seven active AFL players with more career goals than Cameron, including Hawkins (600) and Sydney champion Lance Franklin (944).
Cats final could be Ablett’s last match
Geelong is busy preparing for Saturday night's preliminary final against Brisbane, with the Cats players keen to downplay the fact it might be retiring champion Gary Ablett's last.
"Gary would appreciate that we don't talk internally about that, just like we don't talk about Pat (Dangerfield) hasn't been there (to a grand final)," Geelong forward Tom Hawkins said.
"We would love for the opportunity to send (Ablett) out the way that he should be.
"But we've got to give ourselves the opportunity and we've got a really tough game to get through before we even dream of that."
Dual Brownlow Medal winner Ablett missed nine matches this season for family reasons after revealing that his son Levi was suffering from a rare degenerative disease.
Despite a difficult year for 19-season superstar Ablett, Geelong full-forward Hawkins says he's still been his "normal bubbly self" around the playing group.
"Being away from home and having the unique circumstance of being Gary Ablett, it's incredible to see how vibrant he is around the place and around the players.
"He's been fantastic."
The Cats will also be hoping they can secure a first grand final appearance for 2016 Brownlow medallist Dangerfield, who has played in four preliminary finals without success.
with Yahoo Sport staff
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