See the best quotes from Cameron Ling, as he was elevated to legend status at the Geelong Football Club Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday night.

Cameron Ling on Becoming a Legend

I started thinking back about what this place means to me, and it started when I was sitting in the old Brownlow stand.  
 
It had the wooden seats, we were in the very back row, I would sit with Dad and barrack for the Cats.  
 
From that moment onwards, I just loved the Cats and I loved this place. 
 
I still remember walking out of the 1989 Preliminary Final at Waverley, which was the greatest game of footy I have ever seen in my life until the 2022 Grand Final. 
 
Watching Gary Ablett Senior destroy Essendon, 96 points I think the Cats won by and that feeling walking out to the car, knowing we were in a Grand Final was amazing.  
 
At eight years of age, footy is so magical.  
 
The players are these super human people so walking out of Waverley that day was incredible.  
 
I just loved the place, and then to end up here was special. 

Cameron Ling on Dreams Becoming a Reality

It was one of those ridiculous dreams you have in the backyard, when you pretend to be a Cats player and commentate the fact that you are playing for Geelong.  
 
When I was 16 or 17 years of age and I made a rep team or two, I thought maybe I could do this. 
 
Even at 18 in my final year at the Geelong Falcons, I still wasn't 100% sure my name was going to be called out on draft day. 
 
Stephen Wells called me a couple days ago to say congratulations and to apologise for not being here, because he is over in Western Australia doing what he has done for so long for this club. 
 
I said to him, as I have said a number of times throughout my life and my career, thank you for giving me that opportunity.  
 
I was at home with my Mum and Dad, I had my brother, sister and all my friends around, that moment when my name was read out and it was the Cats that took me, I almost can't describe that feeling it was simply unbelievable. 

Cameron Ling on the 2007 Premiership  

2007 was just the most remarkable year, a truly remarkable year.  
 
Non-Geelong fans go on about the fact it was a horrible grand final, one that will never be replayed.  
 
That was a load of absolute rubbish, it was the greatest grand final ever, we destroyed them and we played some of the most magnificent footy.  
 
For somebody who had been to 1989, 92, 94 and 95, to have that feeling at the MCG knowing we were going to do it, to become a Premiership player at the team I was so desperate to see win a flag.  
 
That last 10 minutes, the presentation, the lap after the game, the time in the rooms with family, friends and teammates, that is still the greatest day ever.  
 
Nothing will ever top that.

Cameron Ling on Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson

In reflection now, I was so fortunate to end up at this footy club under the leadership of some great people like Brian Cook.  
 
With Mark Thompson, his first year as coach was my first year as a player, and Bomber was ahead of his time when it came to development.  
 
I see what Bomber was doing way back then, as a blueprint for so much of what the modern generation does.  
 
Develop the young players, teach them to be on field leaders, teach them to be whole people and develop their personality along with their football.  
 
He pushed us hard, he pushed us really hard and at times I thought I didn't like him much. 
 
Now I look back and just appreciate so much of what he did for me. 
 
He was incredible, one of the greatest coaches ever.  
 
The way he changed the culture and the performance of this club from a playing perspective, he was just an incredible coach.   

Cameron Ling on Developing into a Tagger

After my first season at the Cats, I knew I had to offer Bomber and the coaches something else, add something to my game that meant they wanted to play me. 
 
I wasn't tall enough to be a key forward, I wasn't quick enough and didn't have the tricks to play as a small forward.  
 
I had to have something else, so I had to get fitter and I had to learn a new role in the midfield and Bomber wanted to teach me the run with role.  
 
Stop an opponent but get the heaps of the footy, so I took it upon myself to do everything I could.
  
I went and worked as a brick labourer for two or three years, just to strip down and get as fit as I could while doing pre season.  
 
I loved the challenge of playing on those great players, they were great at what they did but they took me to the ball and I knew that if I could at least limit them, it would help our team.