Josh Jenkins, a former forward and part-time ruck coach at the Geelong Football Club, has called on the Cats to send Jeremy Cameron back to the forward 50 in the wake of their 30-point loss to Sydney.
Despite jumping out to a 35-point lead early in the second term, Geelong was quickly reeled in by the premiership favourites, with the Swans eventually running out 16.16 (112) to 12.10 (82) winners.
Cameron was part of a minor resurgence for the Cats, booting two goals in the final term to keep Geelong within touching distance.
But it was too little too late for the visitors, with Cameron moving forward to cover young tall Shannon Neale, who was subbed out with three touches and a goal.
The contest has prompted the suggestion that Cameron should move back ahead of the ball, a call Jenkins backs.
“It is absolutely time,” Jenkins said on SEN Breakfast.
“I think I was of this opinion maybe 2-3 weeks ago. With Tom Hawkins’ output diminishing this season, I think they’re letting the opposition off the hook by playing Cameron up the ground so often and so much.
“When the game was basically all but done (he played forward). As someone who played as a close to goal forward, there were a lot of times where I would think to myself, ‘I’d do anything to go up the ground and get some touches’.
“That element is super and the way that they ensure that he stays in the game is really good. But the balance has gone way, way too far to him living up the ground.
“I’m not caught up with where he starts, I’m caught up with where he lives, where he plays his football.”
Cameron has kicked over 50 goals in a season eight times in his career. But the 31-year-old had just four disposals inside 50 on Sunday, with 13 of his 21 touches coming in the defensive half.
Excluding the 2020 season, he’s averaging the fewest goals per game outside of his debut year in 2012.
On the flip side, Cameron has never averaged more disposals than in 2024.
“He was one who could have kept Geelong in that game but he’s spending too much time up the ground,” Jenkins added on Cameron.
“There’s no doubt in my mind. He’s probably 75/25 midfielder/forward at the moment, it needs to be completely flipped.”
The Cats have scored the third most points of any club this season, with Tyson Stengle (27 goals), Cameron (24 goals) and Ollie Henry (21 goals, not playing with injury on Sunday) leading the way in 2024.
Despite losing four of their last five games, Geelong will – barring a blowout in the King’s Birthday match between Collingwood and Melbourne – finish Round 13 in fifth position.
