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‘Got me good’: Quaynor vows revenge against Cameron
Jon Pierik
Collingwood defender Isaac Quaynor has vowed to seek redemption against Charlie Cameron in Saturday’s grand final, declaring the Brisbane Lions forward had “got him good” through the home-and-away campaign.
Speed machine Cameron has booted 10 goals against the Magpies this year, six at the Gabba in round four when the Lions won by 33 points, and four at Marvel Stadium in round 23 when the Lions won by 24 points.
He had Quaynor as an opponent for the bulk of those games, Cameron using his pace and nous around goal to inflict major damage.
Cameron, preparing for his second grand final, having been part of Adelaide’s losing side in 2017, threatens to again be a destructive force in warm conditions which will suit his style of play. But Quaynor, who will again spend time on Cameron, hopes a more system-based approach will ensure the star Lion, with 56 goals this season, behind only Joe Daniher (58), is subdued.
Pies defender Isaac Quaynor has a point to prove against Lions star Charlie Cameron.Credit: Eddie Jim
“We play system defence, so I think there will be a few boys who will roll through him [Cameron] and play on him at times. But everyone knows he is a star of the competition, so we have got to make sure we are aware of what he can bring to the table, and how we can try and stop that,” Quaynor said on Friday.
Asked specifically how the Magpies will look to curb Cameron, Quaynor replied: “We don’t really have the answer yet, do we? I think what we have done the first two times, which hasn’t worked, I have had a bit more of a direct match-up on him. Although it hurts my ego, he has got me good a couple of times. Just making sure we play our system, I think that will work itself out.”
Quaynor said he had revenge on his mind.
“Yeah, big time. It’s like the Toby Greene conversation, people don’t stop talking about that, even though it was three, three-and-a-half years ago. People have a good memory, and like to bring stuff like that up. This will be the best way of shutting it all down,” he said.
Charlie Cameron has booted 10 goals in games against the Magpies this year.Credit: Getty Images
Greater Western Sydney star Greene kicked 5.1 from 18 disposals and polled two Brownlow votes when matched up on Quaynor in the Giants’ 30-point win in 2021. Greene had 17 disposals and two goals against the Magpies in last weekend’s preliminary final.
Cameron said he would be ready for the Magpies’ zone defence.
“It’s a different system they have. I know I will be having a tough battle against either Quaynor or [Brayden] Maynard. But whoever I get, I will be backing myself in,” Cameron said.
“It’s going to be a great match-up, whether I get him [Quaynor] or Maynard … just trying to get to work. Like I say, I have a lot of respect for what he [Quaynor] has done this year. I felt like he was snubbed for All-Australian – he has had a good finals series. It will be a great match-up and, hopefully, we can both put on a good show on.”
Quaynor was named in the extended All-Australian squad, but was overlooked for a green blazer.
Cameron is particularly keen for a strong showing, having been held to only a goal and 10 disposals by Carlton’s Adam Saad last week in the preliminary final.
Quaynor said he was delighted great mate Jack Ginnivan had forced his way into the starting 22, Patrick Lipinski relegated to the substitute role.
“It’s unreal. He has put in a power of work, especially in the second half of the year to fight back for his spot. At times, I think he kind of lost a little bit of hope,” Quaynor said.
Billy Frampton (left) with Brayden Maynard at Collingwood’s final training session before the grand final.Credit: Eddie Jim
“I was like: ‘Trust me, I can feel like you are going to break in’, and for him to be able to do that on grand final day and to make the actual 22 is so cool, and I know that the Magpie army will love having him out there.”
Recalled Collingwood tall Billy Frampton says he will start up forward, where he will not only have the job of looking to score and help boost an attack which has mustered only 60 and 58 points respectively in two finals victories, but also must curb Lions’ interceptor Harris Andrews.
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“I will starting forward mostly, but there is plenty of scope for me to go into the ruck and into the backline as well. There will be a bit going on,” Frampton said.
Frampton has not played a senior match since round 24, and had been an emergency through the Magpies’ opening two finals. But he has won his spot in the showcase event, after Daniel McStay hurt his knee in the preliminary final.
“There have probably been more downs than ups in my career so far, but to be able to run out [on Saturday] makes that all worth it. It’s an interesting journey, and there are plenty of things that gone on. But staying the course, persisting, is always how I have tried to conduct myself, and get a little bit of reward, and hopefully a lot more by the end of tomorrow [Saturday],” Frampton said.
Frampton, 26, played three games with Port Adelaide and 21 with the Crows, before joining the Magpies in last year’s trade period for a future third-round selection.
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Lions ready to be 23 v 80,000: Cameron
Roy Ward
The Brisbane Lions are preparing to be 23 against 80,000 when they run out against Collingwood in the grand final on Saturday.
Lions star Charlie Cameron said his team was ready for a wall of noise at the MCG with the crowd expected to favour the Magpie army heavily.
“The ground, the crowd will be coming into it but, for us, it’s just backing ourselves and playing for each other, we will be 23 blokes against 70,000 or 80,000 people,” Cameron said before Friday’s grand final parade. “We’ve got that belief in our players.”
While Cameron admits he sometimes feels the pressure to “create something special”, he is planning to take in the occasion and be ready should the moment arrive to make a key play.
“I’ve just got to go out there and enjoy it,” Cameron said.
“I probably only average 10 touches a game, and I’ve got to make the most of my touches in the forward half. If it comes my way, it comes my way. It wasn’t my opportunity last week, but other boys stood up.
“It’s all about moments in finals. That’s what I’ve noticed. When you have that moment, you need to make the most of it.”
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The Lions brought veteran Daniel Rich in their travelling party with the long-time player retiring at the end of this season, while Jack Payne was ruled out due to injury earlier in the week.
Lions midfielder Josh Dunkley is due to play in his third grand final, having been a part of the Western Bulldogs’ premiership in 2016 and the Bulldogs’ losing side in 2021 in Perth.
Dunkley had no fear about going head-to-head with one of the Magpies’ stars, whether it is Jordan De Goey, Nick Daicos or another player.
Dunkley said he would do a video scout of four or five potential opponents to prepare for the grand final.
“I love playing on the best players in the comp and that’s been my role, not only this year but in years past,” Dunkley said. “So whether that’s Jordy, Nick or whoever it be tomorrow, I will be looking forward to that challenge.”
Dunkley added that dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale had thrown the gauntlet down to his teammates when he turned up to training on Tuesday morning after winning his second Brownlow.
“He addressed the group and said this week is not about me, it’s about us,” Dunkley said.
“He’s had an outstanding year, and we’re pumped for him to get that reward, but he wants to celebrate something as a group so that is what we are looking forward to doing.”
Heat on Pies, Lions
Andrew Wu
The Brisbane Lions are claiming the local weather to be in their advantage as the Lions and Collingwood prepare to play in one of the hottest grand finals ever.
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan soaks up the warmth during the side’s training session at the MCG on Friday.Credit: Getty Images
The heat will be on metaphorically and literally on Saturday with a forecast top of 29 degrees for this year’s decider, making it the third-hottest grand final day in Melbourne since World War II and the fourth overall.
That is just short of the record 31.3 degrees reached in 2015 when Hawthorn claimed the third of their three straight flags with victory over West Coast.
The previous record was set in 1987 when, with the mercury hitting 30.7 degrees, Hawthorn skipper Michael Tuck ditched his trademark long sleeve jumper in his team’s loss to Carlton.
In an omen for Lions fans, Fitzroy – Brisbane’s merger partner – were triumphant on another sweltering grand final day in 1944 when the temperature hit 29.8 degrees.
The weather contrasts with the chill which greeted the two clubs when they met in 2002 (11.9 degrees) and 2003 (13.7 degrees).
Fagan said the heat would suit his players, who are familiar with the warmer climate in Brisbane even if they play mainly at night.
“It sits around 24 to 30 most days of the year,” Fagan said. “But in terms of adapting to conditions, I think it’s favourable to us that we can train in that sort of weather more often than not.”
Hydration is king: The Lions at the grand final parade on Friday.Credit: Getty Images
Melbourne’s unseasonably warm weather has already played its part in both clubs’ planning for the big game. Lions coach Chris Fagan revealed heat was one of the factors in sealing defender Jack Payne’s grand final fate. Magpies coach Craig McRae said weather had also been a consideration in his team’s selection.
Payne is one of this year’s grand final heartbreak stories after failing to convince the Lions match committee he was ready to return from an ankle injury. Defender Darcy Gardiner retained his place after holding back-to-back Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow to one goal.
“It came down to match fitness,” Fagan said. “Jack Payne leading into this grand final would have played one game in five weeks. His first full training session was yesterday.
“And he did really well but at the end of the day, it’s going to be hot out there tomorrow. The bodies are going to be bashing in pretty hard, we just felt it was a wiser decision to go with a guy that was a little bit more match-hardened.”
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