“He provides a really good contest. He is such a big fellah and when he can launch at the ball he is hard to stop so he plays an important role,” Cameron said.
Hawkins, one of six premiership players striving to win back a place, has been sharing his knowledge with Neale, and Cameron described his effort to get back from injury and his contribution from the sidelines as inspiring.
Tom Hawkins is unlikely to play unless there’s an injury. Credit: Getty Images
”He could just sail off as he has had an amazing career and it’s so touch and go with the timing of how his foot is healing and the timing of getting back is such a tight window, but he has done everything he could possibly do … it’s very [up]lifting to walk down to the gym and see that,” Cameron said.
“It’s a great to have a full team at this time of year. It’s needed, it’s crucial to have pretty much a full list of people to choose from but at the same time, there’s always stories [of disappointment] and it’s a challenging time as well.”
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“The guys are training really well … and doing everything they can to get back in.”
Tom Stewart is expected to return from a hamstring injury suffered in the final round, and has recovered from the illness that saw him withdraw from the qualifying final. Cam Guthrie played his first match back in the VFL after battling a lingering Achilles issue.
Sam De Koning has played in two VFL matches as he returns from a knee injury and is a chance to play on one of Brisbane’s talls. Mark O’Connor is out for the season after wrist surgery and Brandan Parfitt has played just one senior match since round 11.
Jhye Clark, Mitch Knevitt and Ted Clohessy have all played senior football and all remain available for selection although they are unlikely to play unless the Cats are forced to make several changes.
Meanwhile, Cameron said his brilliant snap goal in the first quarter of the qualifying final was not necessarily the best goal he has kicked in a final.
“It’s definitely probably one of the top two that I’ve kicked maybe but I think back to that Collingwood one [in 2022], that was probably my favourite to be honest because I know that was with 70,000 Collingwood supporters sitting behind me,” Cameron said.
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That goal was at a crucial stage in the third quarter of the 2022 grand final when Cameron kicked a set shot goal from the forward pocket at the Punt Road end of the MCG to bring the Cats back within a point of the Magpies.
He said his goal against Port Adelaide was “a bit lucky” even though he does practise such kicks at training.
“You still have to have a really big element of luck for that one to go through,” Cameron said.
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