Any wonder Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron was cramping toward the end of Friday night’s win over the Western Bulldogs, after yet another match-winning display for the Cats.
There was a generous smattering of blue and white in the 34,000-strong Marvel Stadium crowd, and Cameron barely gave them a chance to get through their first bucket of hot chips before he had them out of their seats, his first goal arriving a tick over two minutes in.
He’d add two more for the quarter, including his 500th career major at the 20-minute mark and suddenly the Cats were up by over five goals. He’d add three more in the final term and put the rampaging Bulldogs to the sword in front of their home crowd.
It was what's becoming a typically ruthless Cameron performance.
It’s his fourth five-goal-plus haul of the season, including seven against North Melbourne, six against Collingwood, five against GWS, and six on Friday night against the Bulldogs. Add the four against Adelaide last week and three against Port the week before, all Geelong victories, and his match-winning capabilities are undeniable.
But talking to Channel 7 after the final siren, he said he said the bye couldn't come at a better time.
“I was cramping in both calves and both hammies”, he said with a laugh.
“I don’t think I’ve had that in my career ever. It’s a good time for the bye to come around.”
After an injury-interrupted first season in the hoops, Cameron looks to be rounding into every bit the player Cats supporters were hoping they had lured out of GWS at the end of the 2020 season.
But he wouldn't be drawn on whether he was enjoying his best season to date.
"I wouldn’t say that, the job is only half done," he said.
"I’m feeling really good, that’s the positive. It was a bit flattening last year with my injuries but I’ve put them behind me now and it’s been really good fun."
The Cats will head to Perth to face the West Coast Eagles in Round 14.