Team GWS has today added young power forward Jeremy Cameron to its expanding AFL list, with the 17 year old now officially the seventh player to be priority listed by the Club this year.
Hailing from the small Victorian town of Dartmoor with a population of just 150, Cameron has had a unique transition to AFL football, having only witnessed his first live AFL match just two months ago at the AFL grand final.
Recruited from the North Ballart Rebels, Cameron has also this year been selected for the AIS AFL academy program, placing him the top 30 footballers for his age group in Australia. There he will join fellow GWS recruit Jacob Townsend.
Alan McConnell, Team GWS High Performance Manger is excited by Cameron’s development opportunities in Sydney.
“Jeremy is a power forward with a strong attack on the ball. He has done very well having spent little time in the talent pathway after only just being invited in to the TAC Cup program this year.
“He’s had the challenge of distance living in Dartmoor and playing for the Rebels and has undertaken huge travel strain in the last 12 months. We envisage that living Sydney will have a huge upside for his development.
“I think he’ll handle the move to Sydney really well. He’s very popular amongst his peers and comes from a very grounded family.”
Cameron, 196cm, was thrilled to have finalised his future with GWS.
“It’s a great feeling, it’s good to finally have it done. Most kids only dream of having this opportunity. It’s going to be a fantastic experience.
“It was really surreal when I started talking to the team at GWS, I mean hadn’t even been to an live AFL match then.
“Towards the later half of the season this year was when I really started to think this might happen. I knew through Rebels that I knew I fell in the GWS age bracket but I also knew there were a lot of other players that did as well. Luckily I could string a few good games together.”
Cameron said he was nervous about the next stage but thankful that has the opportunity to take the challenge on.
“It’s going to be a massive move coming from a town with 150 people to end up in Sydney. More people live at breakfast point then in Dartmoor! But moving was just something I knew I would always have to do. Unfortunately Dartmouth doesn’t have an AFL side.
“Mum and Dad have always been so supportive and just such strong influences on my game. They would take me to games week in week out and travel massive distances. The sacrifices they’ve made are huge.”
Cameron will move to Sydney in the coming weeks to join the Club for its first pre season before taking part in the NAB Cup pre season competition in February.
