Darcy Cameron played one game for Sydney and now faces Swans in AFL prelim final with Collingwood

It was a microcosm of his three years at the club; a bit of promise but not much opportunity, a set of circumstances which prompted the West Australian to request a trade to Collingwood at the end of 2019.

Less than three years later, Cameron is about to play the biggest match of his life. And it will come against his former side, at the venue of his debut.

Brodie Grundy’s injury left Cameron as the Pies’ No.1 ruckman for most of the season. He has prospered, holding down the position well enough that Collingwood is contemplating off-loading Grundy in the trade period.

More pressingly, the Pies are into a preliminary final against the Swans.

Cameron was still carrying a bit of Sydney with him on Saturday night after Collingwood’s 20-point semi-final win over Fremantle at the MCG. A knock to the nose meant that while he no longer plays for the Bloods, claret was indeed dripping from his nose, leaving a red tinge on his black and white jumper.

The big man remains in contact with several of his old mates in the Harbour City but there will be no room for niceties come next Saturday.

“Tom Papley, Callum Mills, Tom McCartin … Harry Cunningham. They’re great fellas. But as soon as that siren goes, they won’t be my mates anymore,” Cameron says.

“It means a bit now. I stay in touch with a lot of those boys and am mates with them. But as soon as that siren goes, you sort of forget about all that. I want to win this as much as any other person on that field.”

Looking back at his lone game for Sydney, Cameron can appreciate how far he’s come.

“Not a lot of game time. It was a lot of reward for effort but at the same time, it was disappointing. I didn’t perform the way I wanted to and we lost to Gold Coast for the first time at the SCG,” Cameron says.

“Obviously I had a bit of a lack of opportunity when I left. I’m not going to say I had a chip on my shoulder or anything but I love football, I love playing with my mates and stuff. I respect the people that have been able to back me in, like Collingwood, my family, my friends, my partner. I’m just glad to make them proud and myself proud. No grudge against Sydney or anything.”

Cameron has been back to the SCG much more recently than 2019, though. The Pies’ 27-point round 22 loss to the Swans was one of just two defeats for Craig McRae’s side since May. Cameron suggests that his team can take plenty from that game heading into the rematch.

“I played a few NEAFL games there,” Cameron says, with some mild humour.

“I think the good thing is we played there five weeks ago. We didn’t play to our ability that game. And we look back at it, we only lost by five or so goals. It’s exciting that we didn’t play the way we wanted to and we didn’t get absolutely pantsed.”

And sharing the ruck duties with him, Cameron has a player who has lit up a preliminary final like few others. Mason Cox’s three goals and eight contested marks famously sunk Richmond at this stage in 2018. While a repeat of that sort of showing would be welcome, Cameron is happy enough with Cox providing bursts of inspiration, and content to play second fiddle when the Texan import is on song.

“I’m happy to give up a bit of time if his tail’s hot. You can see what he does. He marks the ball at its highest point, he gets the crowd involved, everyone loves him when he takes a big grab. I think we’re a great combination at the moment, I enjoy working with him.”

Among the noteworthy elements of Saturday night’s win was that the Pies were in control for most of the night, a far cry from most of their victories in the back half of the season.

“It was a bit of a weird feeling. I wouldn’t say it was sewn up but having a comfortable lead with about 10, 15 minutes to go, strange areas for us but it was nice,” Cameron says.

“It gives us a lot of confidence.

“We were really confident going into this game with our performance we put up against Geelong last week but still it’s easier said than done, so it’s good to be able to execute exactly what we wanted to do.”