He had to wait more than two years for a debut and then he had to wait more than a quarter for a disposal. But Geelong West and Bannockburn junior Cam Fleeton wouldn’t have it any other way.
After spending more than two years on the list at the GWS Giants, he was forced to wait until two days before the game to be locked in to finally make his debut.
And then he was made to wait further, after not touching the ball in the first quarter against Collingwood.
Cam Fleeton tries to bring Collingwood’s Bobby Hill down. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
But patience has become one of many skills Fleeton has developed at the Giants since he was made to wait until the second-last pick in the 2020 AFL Draft, as the former Bannockburn and Geelong West junior quickly realised it would take him some time.
“I always knew coming to the club that I had to do a bit of an apprenticeship in the VFL,” he said.
“I think coming to the club, my expectations were to play in round 1 that first year and someone like (Giants veteran) Phil Davis told me pretty quick that those expectations were going to be a bit high and I was set for a bit of a wait because obviously we have a pretty solid backline and some experienced players.
“I knew it was going to take some time and maybe an injury or something like that to really break into the team and I just tried to put my best foot forward and play consistent footy in the VFL and luckily enough, I was able to debut eventually.
“It took a couple of years but everyone’s journey is different so I was lucky to be able to debut eventually.”
Fleeton trails Beau McCreery. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
When young defender Isaac Cumming pulled up sore at training midway through last week, Fleeton was suddenly in the frame for his debut, before he was finally confirmed in two days before the MCG game.
After receiving the sudden news, he threw the task of rounding up 20 of his family and friends to watch him play in person to his mother, Carolyn.
“I called mum up and said ‘you take care of it, I don’t want to stress about it’,” Fleeton said.
“She did well. She got the crew together and it was a great day in the end.”
Despite a 65-point loss to the rampaging Magpies, Fleeton did manage to get his hands on the ball eventually, picking up six disposals, which included four intercept possessions.
“The first quarter I didn’t get a touch and I had that in the back of my mind going into the second quarter but I felt pretty good, I was comfortable with the personnel I had around me with Nick Haynes, Connor Idun and Lachie Whitfield helping me out,” he said.
The young back had come into the AFL as an intercept defender and spent the first two years in the system trying to build a big-league physique.
He admits he landed in Sydney as an “under developed” and “skinny” teen and was sent to the gym on his days off to pump iron and build his upper body.
Fleeton cut 10 seconds off his personal best in the 2km time trial this pre-season as his patience paid off.
An “underdeveloped” teen in 2021. Picture: Jason McCawley/AFL Photos
The defender said his move from Geelong up north was made easy by sharing his first two years with fellow Geelong Falcon Tanner Bruhn, and former Giants skipper Phil Davis had taken him under his wing.
“I have been really lucky coming into the Giants, from day one I have had the likes of Nick Haynes, Phil Davis, Connor Idun look out for me,” he said.
“Phil Davis in particular has been great over the last few years. He has been a big supporter and advocate and I was fortunate that he instilled a lot of belief in me in the early days. He really put my under his wing and he has been a really good mentor, so I am very lucky.”