Missing out on All-Australian honours this year might be the motivation that sees Charlie Cameron unleash in 2023.
The exciting forward was at his damaging best this season to finish sixth in the AFL goal kicking with 54 majors.
Cameron kicked them from everywhere, as he caused plenty of headaches for opposition defenders and coaches.
Equally impressive was the 28-year-old’s work rate inside 50 for the Lions, with Cameron recording 134 score involvements and 20 goal assists.
It was in front of a home crowd at The Gabba in Round 16 that Cameron was at his show-stopping best against the Bulldogs.
In a best-on-ground performance, he slotted in four goals while also bringing his teammates into the action with five goal assists.
Two of those goals and three of the assists came in the third quarter when the game was in the balance, before Cameron’s influence helped the Lions win by 41 points.
A key factor behind the forward’s influence, which often goes unnoticed, is the ferocious tackling Cameron displayed, as he laid 77 tackles – the most recorded in any of his five seasons at the Lions.
His tackling force was best on display against the Gold Coast SUNS in Round 19 when he finished with a notable eight tackles in Brisbane’s QClash win at The Gabba.
What stood out about the games where Cameron registered a high tackle count, is that it didn’t always happen in games where he kicked multiple goals.
For example, in his two matches against St Kilda, Cameron collected his second-best tackle count of six, though only finished with one goal in both games.
It once again highlights the fact Cameron doesn’t need to be damaging on the scoreboard for him to play his role for his side.
It’s a part of the crafty forward’s game that has heaped praise in the past, particularly in his time at Adelaide.
As a Crow he notched up 87 and a career-best 103 tackles respectively across the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
If Cameron can produce a similar season next year, where he kicks 50 or more goals and finds a way to reach a triple figure tackle count – he and the Lions will take some serious stopping.
And it will also go a long way to receiving his second All-Australian blazer.
