Charlie Cameron has continued his meteoric rise from rugby convert to emerging AFL gun, with the Adelaide small forward receiving a rising star nomination.
Cameron has been named the Round 13 NAB AFL Rising Star gong for his role in the Crows' grinding 13-point road win over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday, when Adelaide stormed home from four goals down at three-quarter time.
The former rookie harassed and pressured the Lions’ defence, laying five tackles, driving the ball inside 50 a team-high seven times, dishing-out three goal assists and booting a goal as the Crows overran their hosts.
"We didn’t have a good start. The last quarter we just put everything on the line and we believed in ourselves that we could get over the line," Cameron told AFL.com.au.
"I was stoked to get the nomination but I've just got to keep working and try to have another good game.
"I've got to try to have a consistent season."
Cameron, who turns 21 on Sunday, was elevated off the rookie list last year after playing seven games and booting nine majors. His development from a junior rugby and baseball star growing up in Queensland – he only played one season of Australian Rules and "didn't really like it" before moving to WA as an 18-year-old – continues at pace, helped by Eddie Betts' mentoring.
Cameron lived with Betts for six months after he was recruited by the Crows, learning what it takes to cut it at the elite level and picking up the Mark Bickley Emerging Talent Award at the end of last year.
"He's really influenced me since I've been at the club. He's definitely helped me on and off the field," Cameron said of Betts.
"I learned a few things about the way he prepares, he's pretty professional. It's amazing what he does on the field, all those goals he kicks.
"I enjoy playing footy with him."
Cameron has proved a more than handy sidekick for Betts, bagging 12 goals in 11 games this year, averaging 10 touches and only going goalless twice.
He enjoys hitting the scoreboard, but is toning down his celebrations after the unwanted attention that followed his 'stirring the pot' gesture – copied from NBA star James Harden – in Round 12 against Hawthorn.
"I thought I'd mess around, I thought it would be a joke. I didn't think it was going to be that big of a thing," Cameron said.
"The coaches didn't like it … I'll put that back in the rack.
"I thought I played well that night, but we didn't get the win. But I took some confidence into the Lions game.
"I played an all right game against the Lions; (I'm) just trying to do every bit I can to help the team out."
Cameron is the eighth Crow to receive a Rising Star nomination in the last three-and-a-half seasons, following Luke Brown, Brad Crouch, Matt Crouch, Sam Kerridge, Rory Laird, Sam Shaw and 2012 winner Daniel Talia. He’s the first Crow to be nominated this year. Matt Crouch, Jake Lever and Jake Kelly are among the other Adelaide players eligible for a nomination in 2015.
Charlie Cameron's junior club: Pioneers Football & Sporting Club in Newman
2015 Rising Star Nominees
Round One – Kamdyn McIntosh (Richmond)
Round Two – Mitch Honeychurch (Western Bulldogs)
Round Three – Isaac Heeney (Sydney Swans)
Round Four – Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
Round Five – Adam Saad (Gold Coast)
Round Six – Cory Gregson (Geelong)
Round Seven – Billy Hartung (Hawthorn)
Round Eight – Cameron McCarthy (GWS)
Round Nine – Jesse Hogan (Melbourne)
Round 10 – Angus Brayshaw (Melbourne)
Round 11 – Tim Broomhead (Collingwood)
Round 12 – Tom Boyd (Western Bulldogs)
Round 13 – Charlie Cameron (Adelaide)
