Geelong are anxiously waiting for an update on Jeremy Cameron’s health but are hopeful the star forward has avoided serious injury after he was knocked out in the win over Melbourne.
Cameron was taken from the field on a stretcher and sent to hospital for further assessment after an accidental collision with teammate Gary Rohan during the first quarter on Thursday night.
After the match, coach Chris Scott said the incident had “shaken” the Cats, who hung tough in wet conditions at GMHBA Stadium and steamrolled the Demons with a six-goal burst at the start of the final term.
Rohan was visibly upset about hurting his teammate but refocused and kicked three crucial goals in a low-scoring contest, which Geelong won 11.12 (78) to 8.15 (63).
“Because he is the person that he is, it did rattle him, and I kind of respect him more for that because he’s not a sociopath,” Scott said.
“He’s got some empathy for one of his best friends, who he’s accidentally knocked out.
“The way he could refocus on what the team needed was very admirable.”
However, Rohan’s bump has since sparked debate among AFL fans, amid the ongoing harsh crackdown on similar incidents.
Richmond’s Rhyan Mansell is currently serving a three-match suspension for a similar incident, albeit on an opponent in Fremantle’s James Aish.
Tigers great Matthew Richardson was quick to point out the double standard, writing on Twitter ‘Accidental collision does occur in this sport’.
Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas was even more outspoken on the subject, wondering if Rohan should ‘get six weeks’.
Kane Cornes was in agreement, with the polarising AFL pundit saying on SEN Rohan would be facing ‘three to four weeks’ on the sidelines had he been a Melbourne player.
“He has a play on the ball and he opts to bump… clearly because he saw it was his own teammate he thought, ‘I’m an absolute goose that I’m in this space,’ and there’s a few people pointing out that it was similar to the Mansell – Aish incident,” Cornes said.
“he has elected to bump, he’s got him high, he’s knocked him senseless. 100 per cent he would be suspended.”
Rohan will not face a suspension for the incident, as under AFL rules players can only be cited for ‘rough conduct against an opposition player’.
(with AAP)
Jeremy Cameron. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Goodwin slams Oliver absence conspiracy theories
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has conceded Clayton Oliver could miss another match with a hamstring complaint as he took aim at “garbage” speculation surrounding the star midfielder’s ongoing absence.
The social media rumour mill went into overdrive on Thursday as Oliver sat out a fourth consecutive game, with the Demons suffering a 15-point defeat to Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
Furious club officials got on the front foot, using a series of media interviews to reject suggestions that behavioural issues were behind Oliver’s stint on the sidelines.
The 25-year-old ball magnet has been out of action since round 10, when he sustained a minor hamstring injury.
An infected blister then meant he spent five days in hospital, which the Demons believe contributed to the hamstring tightening up again.
Oliver is set to have further scans on the hamstring on Friday.
“Anyone that thinks they know better than that, come and walk into our environment and find out,” Goodwin told reporters on Thursday night.
“He’s off for a hamstring scan tomorrow. We’re hopeful it’s ok and he can continue to progress.
“He’s training to a certain level but he’s not quite there yet. He’s not the type of player that you risk and we’re going to make sure he’s fully fit and ready to go.
“Hopefully the scan comes back all clear but for all the other rubbish that’s out there, it’s just garbage. I hope we can put that one to bed.”
Asked if he was disappointed about the public speculation surrounding one of the game’s best midfielders, Goodwin said it was part of the AFL industry.
“What people want to believe and what they think is right … the facts are he’s got a hamstring (injury) and we’re trying to work him back to full fitness,” Goodwin said.
“He spent five nights in hospital on an IV drip for a pretty serious infection and he’s still got that tight hamstring, so we’re going to make sure he’s right.”
Goodwin has been bullish about Oliver’s imminent return in recent weeks but is now only “hopeful” the match-winner will play against GWS in Alice Springs on July 2.
The coach eased fears over ruckman Brodie Grundy, who copped a head knock during the second half against Geelong but passed a concussion test and returned to the action.
Demons leading goal-kicker Bayley Fritsch will come under scrutiny for a dangerous tackle on Cats defender Jake Kolodjashnij.
“It was a free kick, he (Kolodjashnij) bounced up, so I don’t know,” Goodwin said.
“We’ll have to wait and see.”
‘Used to be a hard game’: Cornes slams reaction to ‘disappointing’ Stewart push
Kane Cornes has expressed bewilderment at the furore generated by Geelong acting captain Tom Stewart’s push on an injured Melbourne star Jack Viney during Geelong’s Thursday night win.
With Viney crouching and clutching his shoulder after a tackle on Stewart, the Cats defender pushed him to the ground, with the incident described as ‘a little bit disappointing’ by Fox Footy’s Jason Dunstall at half time.
“He [Stewart] did have a look at him [Viney] as he’s down holding his shoulder, so he knows what he’s doing, which I think is a little bit disappointing,” Dunstall said.
“He’s such a good player, Tom, but every now and then he does these silly little things that he probably doesn’t need to do.”
However, speaking on SEN on Friday morning, Cornes was scathing of the reaction.
“He’s getting criticised on social media and on Fox Footy, I think, for what is the lightest push on a player you have ever seen,” Cornes said.
“What has the game come to? It used to be a hard game.”
Stewart is a chance of receiving a $1500 misconduct fine for contact with an injured player.