Essendon managed to keep Charlie Cameron quiet, and now it’s the turn of Gold Coast Suns defender Sean Lemmens to nullify the threat of the Lions star.
AFL: Joe Daniher broke the hearts of his former side, with his six goals leading Brisbane to a 42-point victory over Essendon – and remarkable sixth straight win.
Lemmens is expected to have the task of keeping Cameron quiet in the Suns’ bid to beat the Lions for the first time since 2018.
Despite the Lions’ convincing weekend win over the Bombers, Cameron – arguably the AFL’s best small forward – failed to kick a goal and was well contained by Essendon’s Andy McGrath.
“Just because he had a down game, if that’s what you’d call it on the weekend, doesn’t mean that he’s going to have another one,” Lemmens said in anticipating a tough night containing the livewire Lion.
“He’s a star player and normally they bounce back pretty quick … (but) I’m going to back myself in and do the things I know (and) be physical as I know I can be.”
Lemmens said it was “no surprise” that Cameron made defenders “nervous”.
“He’s been a really good pressure player … with that speed he possesses. His speed and his nous, and his goal sense is really good, so trying to nullify his influence is going to be the key to getting (on top in) that match-up,” he said.
Gold Coast’s Sean Lemmens (left) and Brisbane Lions defender Keidean Coleman hope to celebrate the Sir Doug Nicholls Round by winning the QClash. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
If Lemmens can get the better of Cameron, it would improve the Suns’ chances of snapping a run of eight successive losses to Brisbane.
“We enjoy coming up here and facing the Lions,” he said.
“We haven’t had the results we wanted to (against Brisbane), but … no matter where we are on the ladder, both teams get up for the occasion. It’s always a pretty good hitout.”
Both teams take winning form into the contest.
The Lions have won six successive matches, while the Suns are backing up from last Friday/’s 70-point demolition of the West Coast Eagles in Perth.
“As a footy club, it’s about getting back to the process,” Lemmens said.
“The last few weeks has helped us, and it’ll be no different this weekend when we come up the M1.
“If we get back to our process, stick to our structures and what we know, I’m hopeful the result takes care of itself.”
Both teams will wear their Indigenous guernseys as part of the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
“It’s a very important round,” Lemmens said.
The Lions trained at Springfield on Tuesday, with Cameron and veterans Dayne Zorko, Ryan Lester and Jack Gunston restricted to light duties.