Bews ready for rematch
Fit to take on Lions spearhead Cameron
SHUTDOWN defender Jed Bews appears likely to again be called upon for one of football’s toughest assignments, manning Charlie Cameron.
The spearhead bagged 5.2 when the Cats last met the Lions in Round 22 last year, primarily matched up on Bews.
After that one-point Brisbane win — in which Cameron polled three Brownlow votes — Chris Scott famously quipped “I don’t think he had a huge influence on the game”.
While not shying away from those comments, the Cats coach said he respected Cameron. “I think he’s the premier small forward of the competition, I don’t think that’s really ever been in doubt,” Scott said.
“I made some comments when we played them last, which was towards the end of last year, that I didn’t think he was unstoppable and that’s just a fact.
“I rate him very highly and all people who know anything about football do, but he’s not the only threat and I think that’s part of what makes them genuine contenders.”
Despite a rolled ankle early against Gold Coast last weekend, Bews is fit to play on Thursday night.
Scott flagged Bews would again line up on Cameron, whose 10 majors put him one goal behind Tom Papley and Charlie Dixon for the lead in the Coleman Medal.
“We think (Bews is) one of the better match-ups for him around the competition,” Scott said. “There aren’t any perfect ones, but we have another couple of guys down there who are developing quite nicely so it won’t be confined to Jed.”
Should Cameron get on another roll like he did in that match last year, Geelong is likely to turn to Mark O’Connor or Jack Henry as back up.
While acknowledging he will probably take Cameron when he drifts back to the goal square, Bews will count on his fellow defenders for help.
“Most likely he will be (my opponent) but I think we have found a system that has worked a bit better, which is not so one-on-one lockdown. We are trying to help each other out a bit more, so there might be a few of us that go through Charlie,” Bews said.
“He’s probably the best small forward in the comp at the moment and it will probably take all of us to make it a quiet night for him.”