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AFL trades 2020: GWS to match Geelong’s whopping Jeremy Cameron deal

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Catherine HealeyThe West Australian
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VideoGeelong will be forced to make some tough decisions in the coming days with the Giants playing hard ball over Jeremy Cameron.

GWS will match the “eye-watering” deal Geelong has put to star forward Jeremy Cameron, with the two clubs to now head into tough trade talks.

It means the Giants become the first club in AFL history to officially match a rival’s bid on a restricted free agent.

GWS is set to play hard ball with star Jeremy Cameron.
Camera IconGWS is set to play hard ball with star Jeremy Cameron. Credit: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos

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“Told the Giants will match the Geelong bid for Jeremy Cameron,” 7NEWS reporter Tom Browne tweeted.

SEN’s Kane Cornes also tweeted: “Giants have informed Geelong they will match the free agency offer for Jeremy Cameron”.

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Last night the Herald Sun reported the Cats had tabled a five-year, $4.75 million deal to Cameron with the option of a sixth year.

GWS had offered the 27-year-old a five-year, $750,000 deal — which is far less than his most recent contract.

If GWS had chosen not to match the Cats deal, they would have ended up with pick 12 in the upcoming draft as compensation, following the moves of Joe Daniher to Brisbane (compensated by pick seven) and Zac Williams to Carlton (compensated by pick 10).

With the Giants officially matching the Cats’ bid, the two clubs will have to get a deal done during trade week , which begins on Wednesday.

The Giants are reportedly eyeing two first round draft picks as well as a Cats player in exchange for Cameron.

The Cats currently hold three first round picks (13, 15 and 20) thanks to West Coast’s deal for Tim Kelly last year.

Former GWS list manager Stephen Silvagni was full of praise for the Giants’ tough stance on Cameron’s looming departure.

“Unless (the Cats’ deal is) over a million dollars – I think what will be embarrassing for the Giants is if he leaves for less money than they offered for him,” Silvagni said on AFL Trade Radio.

“(The Giants) can’t walk away for an end of first round compensation pick for Jeremy Cameron.

“I have no doubt (GWS) need to match the offer and I’m pretty sure whatever way, they’d be able to fit him in their total player payments and get a better deal out of it.”

Cameron’s manager Alex McDonald this week confirmed his client was not planning to return to GWS and was committed to a future in Geelong.

“They've (Giants) been fantastic for him but for lifestyle reasons he's decided that after 10 years at a club he loves and has helped developed him, it's time to move on,” McDonald said on Trade Radio.

“He and (partner) Indiana are really comfortable with their decision. It was a really big decision for them.”

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