Leon’s a lock for GWS, Clarkson’s no hope
GWS Giants have doubled down on their long-term commitment to Leon Cameron, guaranteeing a two-year contract extension for the coach will be honoured.
The club was on the verge of announcing Cameron’s new deal when the COVID-19 shutdown hit and the AFL put a freeze on all player and football staff contracts given the financial uncertainty.
With a contract that is yet to be lodged or rubberstamped, GWS’s recent form slump has sparked questions over whether Cameron might now find himself in a COVIDinduced twilight zone.
Premiership great Matthew Lloyd said on Footy Classified he would reconsider any agreement made with Cameron if the Giants missed the finals, and questioned whether GWS might be tempted into making a play for Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson.
However Giants chief executive David Matthews declared that Clarkson or no Clarkson, finals or no finals, Leon Cameron is locked in at Sydney Olympic Park.
“I think people are misunderstanding what we’re saying,” Matthews said. “(These questions about if) there’s a contract extension or not. There already is one. We’ve already made a commitment. Right now we have a coach for 2021, 2022. We have no interest in anyone else.
“We think Leon is building something. You face some headwinds in any season and we need to recapture some form. But that’s not down to one person. That’s down to a lot of people.”
There has been renewed conjecture over Clarkson’s future at Hawthorn following comments made by Hawks president Jeff Kennett that appeared to suggest his current deal might be his last.
Former AFL coach Ross Lyon and others have said they would love to see Clarkson set loose on a new club.
“The external speculation doesn’t really concern me,’’ Matthews said. “We’re committed to our coach.”