Leon Cameron

Carlton has overcome the absence of its star forward and the emotion of rival coach's Leon Cameron 193rd and final game in charge of the Giants to finish ...

The Blues have now kicked 100-plus points in the past three consecutive weeks. Third-gamer Cooper Hamilton attempted to set the tone for his side with a courageous contested mark, which led to his side’s first major through Callan Ward. Now it’s two goals. It’s three goals. “What you‘ve done for me – I know it’s my last game, it’s hard not to make it about myself – is unbelievable. It appeared Williams had injured his Achilles, sparking heartbreaking scenes. The Giants got the fast start in the second term, with Jake Riccardi taking a strong mark and kicking the Giants’ fourth goal to reduce the margin to a kick. And when Silvagni showed terrific composure to nail his second goal and give Carlton a 23-point lead, the Blues had the game sealed. There was a lovely moment early, with Blues debutant Jesse Motlop kicking his first AFL goal from a set-shot — much to the delight of his family in the Giants Stadium grandstand. And when Walsh snapped his second goal, the relentless Blues had shot out to a 20-point lead, with the Giants failing to have a disposal in their forward half across the first seven minutes. Despite missing reigning Coleman Medallist Harry McKay, the Blues blitzed Cameron’s Giants in the first term, booting the first four goals of the match to set the tone and set up a 30-point win. Carlton has overcome the absence of its star forward and the emotion of rival coach’s Leon Cameron 193rd and final game in charge of the Giants to finish Round 9 in the top four.

Outgoing coach Leon Cameron believes emotions got the better of GWS as Carlton made a fast start that the Giants were unable to overcome.

“There’s a disappointment because of the way we finished today. “I’m really confident that under Mark’s tutelage for the remainder of the year that there will be a number of opportunities for kids and players to stamp their authority as a Giants player,” Cameron said. That’s not a true reflection of our group.”

Carlton has spoiled the formalities for outgoing GWS coach Leon Cameron's final game in charge, defeating t...

"What you've done for me – I know it's my last game, it's hard not to make it about myself – is unbelievable. Ahead of his 193rd game at the helm of the Giants, Cameron delivered an emotional final address to his players. While Cameron's final hurrah appeared to inspire a few mid-game surges for the Giants, multiple goals to a host of Blues ultimately secured Carlton the victory.

Outgoing GWS coach Leon Cameron has been forced to step away from his post in defeat as the Giants couldn't get the job done against Carlton at home on ...

While they keep winning, Carlton’s injury list was added to as former Giant Zac Williams went down with a lower leg injury. For GWS, medical substitute Bobby Hill was injected into the game in the last quarter as Connor Stone had ice applied to his hamstring. For the Giants, Josh Kelly (one goal, 36 disposals) and Harry Perryman (one goal, 24 disposals) fought well in their coach’s last game. With spearhead Harry McKay sidelined, the Blues also shared the load in front of goal as Corey Durdin (2.1), Sam Walsh, (2.1), Charlie Curnow (2.0), Jack Silvagni (2.0) and Zac Fisher (2.0) all booted multiple majors. For Carlton, the win was set up in the midfield as the Blues’ highly regarded midfield outfit put together a 36 - 28 clearance differential, while also winning both the contested possession (164 - 129) and uncontested possession (260 - 209) counts. With the end result being a 105 - 75 scoreline in the Blues’ favour, it was GWS who couldn’t keep up with Michael Voss’ side in the last term as the 7-2 outfit pulled away to win.

Leon Cameron's final game as GWS coach didn't go to plan as Carlton overpowered the Giants.

One of the shining lights in what has been a dull and dreary season for the Giants is the emergence of first-year player Cooper Hamilton. A 2021 rookie elevation (pick 13), Hamilton has played three consecutive games, and on Sunday, he tallied a career-best 19 disposals (at 84 per cent). More important than his disposal tally, though, was his ability to read the game and cut off a couple of Carlton attacking plays. He was writhing in pain and had to be helped from the ground by trainers. After consecutive preliminary final losses in 2016 and 2017, Cameron led the club to its first Grand Final appearance in 2019. After taking the reins of the Giants at the start of the 2014 season, Cameron bows out with a record of 101 wins, 88 losses and four draws. He led the Giants to finals between 2016-2019, and after missing September in 2020, they returned last year and beat Sydney in an elimination final. Cameron delivered an emotional pre-game address, but it was the Blues who burst out of the blocks, kicking the first four goals of the game.

Leon Cameron's final game as GWS coach didn't go to plan as Carlton overpowered the Giants.

One of the shining lights in what has been a dull and dreary season for the Giants is the emergence of first-year player Cooper Hamilton. A 2021 rookie elevation (pick 13), Hamilton has played three consecutive games, and on Sunday, he tallied a career-best 19 disposals (at 84 per cent). More important than his disposal tally, though, was his ability to read the game and cut off a couple of Carlton attacking plays. He was writhing in pain and had to be helped from the ground by trainers. After consecutive preliminary final losses in 2016 and 2017, Cameron led the club to its first Grand Final appearance in 2019. After taking the reins of the Giants at the start of the 2014 season, Cameron bows out with a record of 101 wins, 88 losses and four draws. He led the Giants to finals between 2016-2019, and after missing September in 2020, they returned last year and beat Sydney in an elimination final. Cameron delivered an emotional pre-game address, but it was the Blues who burst out of the blocks, kicking the first four goals of the game.

Cameron can claim credit for moulding a club with a purpose, a hard edge and an identifiable brand.

That was the game where he and the club knew it was the end of the road. Some believe he lost his way in his final years at Hawthorn, that he gutted the list and their football was at times bordering on unwatchable. He has months to figure out what he wants to do, where he wants to live and whose playing list he fancies shipping into shape. A lot of the credit for that should go to Cameron. Essendon, in particular, looked like a team which could use a few Clarkson home truths on Saturday night. In several finals – against Sydney in 2016 and the Bulldogs in 2019 – they brutalised their opposition. They were so close in the 2016 preliminary final, narrowly going down in one of the great games of the modern era. They had a knack of winning finals when no one gave them a prayer, most memorably against Collingwood in the 2019 preliminary final. They put Adelaide to the sword a fortnight ago, but have otherwise been flat, unconvincing and in desperate need of a reset. In the dying minutes, they defended like crazy men in the puddles at the Punt Road end. The end of coaching tenures aren’t the savage affairs they used to be. They used to come with years of recrimination and bitterness.