Cameron column: Geelong Cats v Pies in Spherical 1 doesn’t get significantly better

You couldn’t ask for a greater spherical 1 match-up. It’s actually our largest first-up sport shortly.

I do know there’s loads of different huge rivalries, however the best way it completed for us final season, taking part in the Pies in a belting qualifying closing, it doesn’t get significantly better.

They have been the large movers final season – they flew up the ladder and have been one kick away from a grand closing, so they are going to be a troublesome opponent.

They play a quick, thrilling model of footy, and to suppose that we’ll be taking part in in entrance of upwards of 85,000-90,000 folks is fairly unimaginable.

So I’m wanting ahead to that problem straight off the bat.

It’s at all times good taking part in on the ‘G, and it’s a very good feeling when footy’s again.

I can’t consider it has come round so rapidly, however we’re in actually good condition to present it one other crack.

The environment on the MCG goes to be one thing else.

Within the two video games we performed in opposition to Collingwood final season, the noise was unbelievable. It undoubtedly will get me going.

I do know some gamers prefer it greater than others, however as a ahead, I like the group involvement.

In that first sport we have been down by a good distance at three-quarter time and we would have liked to do one thing and we rolled the cube.

The gang was actually of their favour.

All their followers have been up and about and displaying plenty of power and their gamers have been feeding off that.

However once we kicked one, then two, you could possibly sense the Pies supporters have been getting a bit anxious and our followers have been rising slowly as we kicked aim after aim.

We pegged just a few again and that’s a distinct feeling and you may trip that momentum.

It was the same feeling within the qualifying closing — the Cats followers have been outnumbered within the stands.

However after I performed on the Giants, that was nothing new and I don’t thoughts that in any respect.

I like being the underdog.

In saying that, we’ve got loads of supporters from Geelong who go to those video games they usually all make the journey as much as the ‘G and I feel it is going to be much more balanced this time round.

WILL THE PIES PLUMMIT DOWN THE LADDER?

IN my thoughts, I discover it troublesome to see Collingwood falling off the perch.

I don’t learn an excessive amount of into the exterior noise, however I’ve seen a little bit of the Pies within the pre-season and I’m not seeing any indicators that will recommend they could falter.

They’re a very good aspect they usually have a very good mix of expertise and youth and a few high quality gamers at each ends of the bottom.

They’ve introduced in some expertise, specifically Bobbie Hill, and I do know the type of participant he might be.

So if he has a very good yr, and the midfield is powerful once more with the addition of Tom Mitchell, they are going to be harmful.

They’re an thrilling group and Collingwood followers are fortunate to have the ability to watch them play.

It will have been nerve-racking watching them play in so many tight video games, however as a fan that’s what you need, isn’t it?

MOORE OF THE SAME?

AS a key ahead, I very often know who I’m going to get most weeks.

However by the identical token, I’m not 100 per cent certain I’ll get this time round as a result of the Collingwood defence is so versatile.

I’ve had Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe earlier than and I’ve had them each in the identical sport, so it’s arduous to know what would possibly occur.

Billy Frampton is one other one who might play on me, and Brayden Maynard can play tall and small, so there’s just a few choices.

So there’ll be three opponents I’ll look into it, however I gained’t get caught up in it an excessive amount of.

Both approach, it’s going to be an important contest.

I can take a guess and say Darcy Moore will rub shoulders with me on the first bounce, however I’m actually undecided.

It is dependent upon the place I begin, as nicely.

If I’m excessive up the bottom then it could be Moore as a result of he likes to stand up to the wing and again himself to learn the play and mark the ball.

He’s a hell of a footballer, Darcy.

I’ve at all times had loads of respect for the best way Darcy performs his soccer.

He’s an enormous lad, and he backs himself to mark it.

And I would tread on some toes in saying this, however Alex Rance was one of many first gamers to get actually assertive and run away from their opponent and impression the competition, mark the ball or flip it over and ship the ball the opposite approach.

Very often I’d be standing in the course of the bottom wanting fairly silly as a result of I’m meant to be marking the footy, however he’s run 50m affect the play.

And I might say Darcy is correct up there with the most effective in that regard. He and Rance have the same sport model.

Tom Stewart and Sam De Koning do this for us as nicely, and Moore’s an unimaginable participant when he’s in full flight.

TITLE DEFENCE

RIGHT now, it looks like a construct as much as a standard season.

Profitable the flag does change issues, and you may turn out to be complacent, however our group has gone the alternative approach and the boys have come again extra hungry that ever.

We’re nicely rested.

It was a brutal season, however the coaches and energy and conditioning employees have taken care of us, and since Christmas, we’ve turned it up a few notches and we’ve been taking part in strong soccer in opposition to one another for some time now.

I don’t really feel as if something has modified.

We need to go and win all of it once more, however it’s straightforward to say that.

We’re centered on the now and we have to win sufficient dwelling and away video games to make the finals and that’s our aim proper now.

It looks like there’s a lot arduous work to be executed between now and September, and that’s why premierships are so arduous to win.

We’ll take little steps alongside the best way first.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

THAT’S why it’s so arduous to go back-to-back.

Because the premiers, we would be the most checked out membership within the competitors.

That’s what you’ve acquired to do, you have a look at the most effective groups and attempt to emulate what they do.

The highlight in on the group that wins the flag.

I keep in mind in earlier years wanting on the premier and taking elements of their sport model so we will fight that and play a bit in a different way subsequent time round.

These are the issues that Collingwood might be going via proper now.

It’s simply how it’s.

It’s simply one other problem and we’ll power ourselves to be higher once more.

You must be prepared for something and that you must be prepared for change.

And typically it take some time — at the very least a lot of matches — to uncover what the most effective groups are doing.

I really feel our pattern dimension was the entire of final season.

Clearly we modified the best way we performed, however not many groups would have identified how we play till rounds seven or eight, and by then we have been on a roll and we completed the season so sturdy.

We have been arduous to cease, however there might be occasions the place we have to tweak our sport plan once more because the opposition throw issues at us.

If we roll on the market considering we will play the identical approach, we’ll get overwhelmed, so we have to make adjustments alongside the best way.

BABY CAMERON IS ON THE WAY

WE’RE inside two weeks and it’s thrilling occasions.

Our child is due on March 25, so it’s solely two days after the spherical 2 sport in opposition to Carlton.

We play on the Thursday evening and hopefully we’ve got a child on the Friday — that will be good — then I’ll have loads of time to be able to play Gold Coast up there in spherical 3.

I plan to play in opposition to the Pies and the Blues as a result of each video games are on the ‘G, however having stated that, I’ll be strolling off the sphere if the newborn comes throughout both of these video games.

That wouldn’t be supreme, however that’s life and household comes first.

Chris Scott has been unbelievably supportive with all of it, as have the entire coaches.

Scotty talked about that he’d somewhat have me on the market for one quarter than by no means, if that’s the way it all unfolded.

I simply can’t wait to be a father.

I’ve at all times beloved youngsters.

My sister had somewhat lady final yr — the primary in our quick household — and our bub would possibly arrive on the identical day, so it’s loopy the way it’s all labored out.

To be trustworthy, it’s a little sudden for my accomplice, Indy, and I. We have been very prepared, however it was a case of ‘when’s the fitting time’.

I’m glad it has labored out this manner.

We had performed a sport over in Adelaide and I got here dwelling to a extremely huge shock that Indy was pregnant.

It’s one thing you may’t at all times plan the best way you’d like. Loads of households have problem falling pregnant, so we’re fortunate in that sense.

We’ve been requested just a few occasions what we’re hoping for and I’d like a boy and a woman at some stage.

And I do know this adjustments, however I’d like an enormous household. In an ideal world it might be a boy and that will be superior, however I’d like to have somewhat lady.

My sister, Talitha, had somewhat lady and my former teammate at GWS Giants Ryan Griffen, who’s one among my greatest mates, had two ladies they usually’re lovable.

PREPARING FOR FATHERHOOD

It’s going to be hectic, that’s how I envisage it.

Most individuals would say I’m a busy human being anyway with my hobbies exterior of soccer. I’ve various issues I love to do.

I’m at all times on the golf course, out within the boat, away tenting or doing stuff at dwelling on the farm.

So I’ve at all times acquired issues on, however it’s going to be busier with the toddler, that’s for certain.

I might need to place these hobbies away, at the very least for a short while as we discover our toes.

It’s an thrilling time and we each can’t wait. We simply need for issues to go easily.

We’re simply desirous to get into it.

IT’S A SECRET

I’ve at all times needed it that approach, however Indy was keen to search out out the intercourse of the newborn initially.

However the extra she considered it, the extra she needed it to be a secret.

For the previous couple of weeks I’ve been going via situations, ‘is it a boy, is it a woman?’ I’m ready for each.

Initially printed as Cameron column: Cats, Pies in Spherical 1, it doesn’t get significantly better