Fully recovered from the devastating foot injury that cut short his first season with Brisbane, electric small forward Charlie Cameron has set the bar high for 2019.
The 24-year-old wants to be a top-five player in his position in the AFL.
Cameron was on pace to be selected in the All Australian squad last season until he ruptured the Lisfranc ligament in his foot against North Melbourne in Round 11.
He'd kicked 17 goals and was in the top three of the Lions' best and fairest to that stage.
Cameron underwent surgery that included inserting three pins into his ankle and missed the remainder of the season.
After a rehab program that saw him on crutches, on a scooter and then in a moon boot for the first 10 weeks, the Queensland product has resumed full training post-Christmas and took part in the Lions' practice match session in Hobart on Sunday.
Charlie Cameron is chased by James Madden during the practice match last Sunday.
Speaking to AFL.com.au, Cameron said he wanted to establish himself as one of the competition's best small forwards, and that included matching it with his favourite player.
"I'm excited about coming back and just trying to repay the faith in the coaches who believe in me," he said.
"I'm still trying to prove to them that I can play at the elite level.
"I'm trying to compete with Eddie Betts, Toby Greene, Luke Breust.
"I'm trying to be top-five small forward in the game.
"I watch a lot of Toby Greene, I think he's my favourite player.
"I try to model my game around Toby Greene, he's an electric forward. I want to take my game to the next level."
The trio Cameron named have a total of six All Australian selections between them – three to Betts, two to Breust and one to Greene.
After a long layoff with injury last year Greene showed why he is so highly regarded with a devastating elimination final performance against Sydney in which he kicked 3.3 in a 27-disposal masterclass.
Cameron agreed the first 10 weeks of 2018 was the most consistent stretch of his 84-game career, as he not only kicked goals but applied suffocating defensive pressure and even spent stints in the midfield.
He said the prospect of rejoining a forward line that included Eric Hipwood, Cam Rayner and Dan McStay excited him.
"I'm still trying to build relationships, but I feel comfortable being in that forward line and I hang out with most of those boys outside of footy.
"It's good to be back, but it's all about building that chemistry.
"Hopefully we can all improve together."
