Inside the Cats litter sparking AFL resurgence... and the unheralded homecoming behind them
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Brad Close has reason to pinch himself during almost every training session with Geelong. The premiership forward, who has played all but two games since Round 4 in 2021, said he watches with awe the deeds of Jeremy Cameron when he has the footy on the training track. The 2019 Coleman Medallist, who proved a match-winner against Carlton last Saturday when kicking five goals to take his season tally to 19, finesses the football when kicking. The 31-year-old hones his craft from all positions, fine-tuning different kicks, shaping the Sherrin this way and that, working hard to maximise his remarkable talent. "You'll see Jezza at training trying all different sorts of kicks, and then you see them come off in games and you sort of think, 'Well that's probably why it has come off', because it something he has tried at training, and it is working," Close told foxsports.com.au. Sydney Swans v GWS Giants LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo | SATURDAY 1:35PM | New to Kayo? Start your free trial today > Such is the aerobic capacity of Cameron, he would be capable of playing on the wing or through the middle if that is what Geelong coach Chris Scott required of him. As a case in point, the key forward is roaming further afield than ever this season, which has led to an increase in his involvement in matches. The 31-year-old is averaging a career-high 18 disposals a match and has also lifted his marking average, which is seven per game this year, to a new mark as well. Brisbane great Jonathan Brown said on Fox Footy's On The Couch this week that Cameron's versatility makes him an extremely hard player to defend against. "I would argue it is hard to find anyone in the competition, as a defender, who can handle Jeremy Cameron when he is playing this role," Brown said. "He is a beautiful field kick as well. You can't leave him on his own in the middle of the ground either. Find me a defender who can run with him all over the field." Jezza sinks FIVE past Blues | 01:28 Fox Footy analyst David King also described the former Giant as the most difficult player in the AFL to man-up on AFL 360 on Wednesday night. "You have to look at how Chris Scott's using this guy and what match-up you need to go with," he said. "Systems (are) getting destroyed by this guy. So, if you want to keep rolling out system, system, system, he'll kick five, he'll kick four, he'll set up another three or four, and the game will be over. "There's a lot of double-up stuff. A lot of first possession and then follow-up. His opponent's trying to locate him on the way through, (but) you've got no hope when that's the case. "Of his 19 (goals), 10 are uncontested marks and seven are in play. That's just the match-up that's inadequate, whether it's athletically, not capable, or just a complete size mismatch." Fellow Coleman Medallist Tom Hawkins described Cameron as arguably the competition's best player. "If he's not (the best player in the game right now), he's very, very close. He's a remarkable player in such great form and the way that he does it is so unique," he said. "We maybe haven't seen (it) since the likes of Buddy Franklin (with) his ability to be able to cover ground, get back towards goal, find dangerous space and take big moments, big marks, kick big goals. "When we need it most, Jeremy seems to be there (and) What's great is that there's more to come from Jeremy Cameron." ONE MAN DOES NOT MAKE A FORWARD LINE As brilliant as Cameron is, the Geelong forward line is far from a one-man attack, with stars of every shape and size helping the Cats excel in attack. Hawkins recently told Fox Sports that the ideal forward line features what he calls a "2.5", which effectively means two key forwards and a hybrid capable of offering a marking option while also excelling at ground level. A posse of small forwards capable of creating goals and excelling at putting pressure on opposition defenders play a complementary role. In Cameron and Ollie Henry, the Cats effectively have two hybrid forwards, while Hawkins offers a dual-role given his outstanding rucking capabilities in the ruck. A critical aspect that has helped Geelong in its unbeaten start to the season is the role played by small forwards Tyson Stengle, Gryan Myers and Close. While the trio has combined to kick 29 of Geelong's 103 goals this year, less recognised is their running ability. Brown noted this week he did not think any other team in the competition "have those high half-forwards" who "just do wind sprints, 150 metre sprints up and down". They cover a significant amount of ground, offering linking options on either side of the ground when Geelong has possession or filling gaps when the Cats are defending. "I think with a smaller sort of forward line that we have been running, it's been really good to feel comfortable and just know the role that I have to play," Close said. "I know I don't have to have 20 disposals each week to play my role. I am not exactly sure (how far I run but) it would have been about 14 to 15 km. But we know that is our role and that is to get up and get back. "I think we are using the ball really well going forward, so we are getting on the end of it a fair bit more than we might have been in the past." Dangerfield to miss a least a month | 00:55 Geelong's efficiency in their forward line has been outstanding for much of the year, with their win over Carlton at the MCG last Saturday a perfect demonstration of this. Close attributes this in part to an unselfish approach. Dating back to the brilliant Steve Johnson towards the tail-end of the noughties, the Cats attack has made a point of sharing, with Hawkins at the forefront in this regard. "I think the team as a whole, we're out there to win the game and we don't look at individual stats," Close said. "We look at us forward seven, or whatever you want to call us, because we probably have ten blokes at the end of the day who run through there, we're happy at the end of the day for each other to kick the goals. "(Our efficiency stems from) the numbers we get around the footy in the forward line, trying to find good shots, maybe using that extra handball instead of having a shot when you spot someone else in a better position. That comes down to the work we do on the track, but also probably finding better shots instead of blazing away. "I think you see that with the way that we celebrate … and it makes for a good positive attitude, I guess, amongst the group when everyone's happy to be involved in sharing." THE RETURN OF RAHILLY James Rahilly played 90 games for Geelong between 1998 and 2005, the majority of those in defence. But it is at the opposite end of the ground where Rahilly, who kicked 11 goals during his career, is having an impact this year. Rahilly, who assisted Close as a development coach when he first arrived at Geelong via pick 14 in the 2019 rookie draft, returned to the Cats this year as an assistant coach after a stint with Adelaide. The Crows were the most potent side in footy last year and led the competition when it came to kicking goals inside the forward 50m arc. Adelaide sits 12th in these categories this year. Geelong, meanwhile, now sits fourth in the competition in terms of scoring this year and is ranked second in terms of the number of goals they have kicked inside the 50m arc. "Luckily, in my first year, we had James as a development coach, so a few of us already knew him," Close said. "We saw what he did with the Adelaide Crows forward line and he did a great job over there. What he allows us to do is play the structure, but you see everyone's still playing with their own flair. "He lets blokes play in their own way, like Jeremy and Tyson, who have their own strengths. He really brings that out in all of us, I think, with a good solid structure behind us." Scott unpacks huge Cats win over Blues | 10:18 THE ROAD AHEAD The Cats are a game clear of Sydney and the Giants in top spot but face a testing month beginning with their clash against the 4th-placed Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday night. Geelong then hosts Port Adelaide before a trip to Darwin to tackle the Gold Coast Suns, with the Giants travelling from the west of Sydney to tackle them at the end of May in Rd 11. "I think our next few games, obviously, are going to be tough, and I can't really see an easy game coming up," Close said. "That's just what the league is like. It's very even. And I think each team is getting better as the season goes on."