When Collingwood recruited Darcy Cameron at the end of 2019, he’d played just one AFL game.
His one and only appearance in Swans colours, made the Pies’ recruitment of him one that was seen to be a left field option in some people’s eyes. But they had a plan – for both Cameron and the team.
“My role was to look like a forward that pinch hits in the ruck for Brodie (Grundy) so that’s what got me the pull here and Collingwood by that time were the only club that were really keen,” Cameron reflected.
“There were other clubs circling and they wanted to wait until later in the trade period and I wanted someone that wanted me and Collingwood were that club.
“The role was play forward, give Brodie a five or 10-minute spell every quarter.
“It was funny because at that time I was pretty much competing with Coxy and it’s funny how it’s worked out.”
How it’s worked out is that he and Mason Cox are both premiership ruckman only a couple of years later.
That role switch was forced upon him at points in 2022 and officially at the start of this season, but it’s something he embraced from the moment he had the chance.
“I’ve been trying to reflect on it over the last probably year and a half and how things have worked out especially in particular the last year how it’s actually became a lock in role where it’s ‘you’re rucking with Coxy every week’,” he said.
“I never for the life of me saw that, I saw my role as playing as that forward or helping someone out, so I’ve worked my arse off for so long that I was so stoked that the Club backed me in to take care of that role.
“I’m forever indebted to them and I’m just so happy that I made that move here and very grateful to the Club.”
It’s why Cameron has embraced the role-playing aspect of his game.
It’s a common theme among the 2023 premiership side, something the 28-year-old believes has connected the group.
“The best part of our team is we’re just a bunch or role players,” he said.
“You do have those higher tier players that do the special things like the Daicos’ or the people up forward like the Jamie Elliott’s or the Bobby Hill’s but there’s so many people across the board that just go out there and do their role every week.
“I love them like family. There are so many people around this whole facility, not just the playing group.
“There are so many people around this whole club that you can call family and you love them with all your heart and they’re your brothers, they’re your sisters.
“I know there’s a lot of people in the other 17 teams that say, ‘this is a special group’ but this is genuinely something that I’ve never been a part of.”
While many have focussed on moments like Jordan De Goey and Steele Sidebottom’s final quarter goals, Cameron believes there is a different one that doesn’t get the praise it deserves.
Jack Crisp kicked two crucial goals in the second quarter – one giving the Pies the lead back after the siren for half time blew – but it was the first that Cameron has reflected on most.
“Jack Crisp’s goal, I’ve watched that back a few times and you look at the scoreboard, it’s 37 to 50 and if they kick another goal it starts to get nervy,” he says.
“That goal from that spot and he did it three weeks ago against Melbourne, I don’t think that gets enough attention.
“That’s a really clutch goal and then we kick another and then we go into half time with a lead, that’s a big moment and I think that’s a really big play.”
Darcy Cameron’s 2023 stats:
- Ranked #1 at Collingwood for hit outs
- Career high 45 hit outs in Round 19 v Port Adelaide
