Albany Sportsperson of the Year: AFL premiership star Darcy Cameron wins major award to cap stellar 2023

AFL premiership player Darcy Cameron paid homage to his Albany roots for his football success after taking out the city’s most prestigious sporting honour last Thursday night. Collingwood ruckman Cameron claimed the inaugural Wellington and Reeves Albany Sportsperson of the Year title after playing in the Magpies’ 2023 premiership team in September. He was up against fierce competition including State beach volleyballer Tully Bew, AFLW defender Sophie McDonald, WAFL team of the year member Jacob Blight and WA Premier hockey player Julie Keymar to secure the prestigious honour. His older brother Luke collected the award on his behalf before a prerecorded interview with the 28-year-old, who was unable to attend the night as he prepares for the upcoming AFL season, was played from Melbourne. The North Albany product attributed his success to his upbringing and touched on the role the city played in his development in guiding him to the game’s biggest stage. “I’m very proud and humbled to be the first winner of this award is very special and hopefully it goes on to bigger and better people than myself, but it’s obviously a very proud moment,” he said. “Albany is such a special place to me with a lot of fond memories growing up there. “Pre (finals series) was just amazing leading up to those finals I just had love from people I grew up with who reached out to support me. “It’s so special because you don’t have to talk to them each week but they hold a great place in your heart. “Albany’s played a huge role in my career. I go back to when I started playing footy in those cold wet days and just being able to play with the biggest smile on my face. “Doing it with a bunch of your mates and your coaches that teach you the way, one of which was my dad, which has been really special. “Albany’s culture with football, we’ve been able to produce such great talent down there. “It’s just because it’s such a great community, good people come from Albany and I’m proud to be able to call myself an ‘Albany-ite’ as my dad likes to call it.” Drafted from Claremont to Sydney where he played just one AFL game and then finding his way to the Magpies is part of Cameron’s incredible journey to the biggest stage where he had 12 disposals, 19 hit outs and six tackles in the grand final victory. Cameron said tasting premiership success under coach Craig McRae is something he will cherish for the rest of his career. “It was a year I’ll never forget. Winning a premiership is your main goal in football from a team perspective and we were able to do that,” Cameron said. “A lot of work goes in and it didn’t just start then, it started pretty much two to three years ago when Fly (McRae) got to the club and the people he brought with him. “The journey we’ve gone on as a team with him has been really special and you see all that work came to fruition. “We have a special bunch of people, coaches, staff and everyone through the admin side — they’re family really.” Cameron said a huge driver behind his ability to play consistent football for the Magpies is maintaining strong mental preparation. “It has been massive for me over the last few years in particular,” he said. “I’ve really tapped into the mental preparation of games and switching off, having things outside of football to get that release. “Football can become overwhelming at times, it is a long season, and seems to be getting longer, and it’s physically tasking and probably more mental than anything.”