Jeremy Cameron’s Surprise All-Australian Captaincy Sparks Debate
The All-Australian team was announced last week, and while it’s usually a night for celebrating the best of the best in the AFL, this year one decision has stirred up plenty of conversation. Jeremy Cameron, the star forward from Dartmoor, not only collected his second Coleman Medal for booting 83 goals this season, but he was also named captain of the All-Australian side. And here’s the kicker—Cameron himself admitted he has never captained anything in his life. He walked on stage looking more surprised than proud, and even joked about it, saying he had never been in charge of “a bloody thing.”
Now, that’s not to take away from Cameron’s brilliance on the field. He has been one of the most dangerous forwards in the competition, kicking more goals than anyone else in a single season since Brendan Fevola back in 2009. He has also been named in the All-Australian side five times, with three of those coming in the past four years. His consistency and talent are undeniable. But the debate is less about his playing ability and more about whether the captaincy should be treated as a ceremonial honor or as something more meaningful.
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Traditionally, the All-Australian captaincy is supposed to reflect leadership—the player who could hypothetically lead this team if it were to take on an international opponent. Yet in recent years, the AFL has leaned toward making it more symbolic, even awarding it to Lance Franklin once, who also had little leadership experience at club level. This year, though, the decision to give it to Cameron feels particularly odd, especially given the number of genuine leaders available in the team.
Take Jordan Dawson, for instance, Adelaide’s captain. He not only had a stellar season, averaging nearly 24 disposals a game, but he also inspired his team to climb from 15th to the top of the ladder. He was even voted the AFL’s Best Captain by his peers, the first Crow to earn that honor since 2017. Then there’s Max Gawn, Melbourne’s rock in the ruck, who has been a steadying presence through turbulent times for the Demons. Harris Andrews of Brisbane has quietly led from defense, while Noah Anderson lifted the Suns into finals for the first time in their history. And of course, Marcus Bontempelli—the Bont—remains one of the most respected leaders and performers in the league.
So the question is clear: should the All-Australian captaincy be handed out as a novelty, or should it genuinely reflect leadership? For many, this year’s decision undermines the significance of the title. Cameron’s selection was not about his fault—he’s a superstar of the game—but about whether the AFL got the simple things wrong. And when five proven captains are standing right there, it feels like one of them should have been the obvious choice.
At the end of the day, the All-Australian team is about celebrating excellence, and leadership is a big part of that. Perhaps the AFL needs to think harder about what message this honor is meant to send. Because while Cameron will go down as one of the great forwards, the captaincy debate will keep people talking long after the awards night ended.
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