Loss sours Cameron’s AFL debut

Former North Albany ruckman Darcy Cameron made his long-awaited AFL debut on Saturday for the Sydney Swans but it was a disappointing result as they went down to Gold Coast at the SCG.

After some telling performances at reserves level for the Swans in the NEAFL, Cameron forced his way onto the senior team in his second year with the club.

Playing as the second ruckman and a tall option up forward, the 23-year-old finished with nine hit-outs, three disposals, two marks and two tackles in his debut.

The Swans, however, went down to the Suns by 24 points in one of the biggest upsets of the season.

In the WAFL there was another debut, this time former North Albany wingman Addison Dew, who played his first league game for Claremont on Saturday.

Playing as a lockdown defender, Dew impressed with a solid display, including a number of one-on-one victories as his side got over the line by 24 points against East Perth in torrid conditions at Claremont Oval.

Dew laid six tackles to go with his six disposals and sang the team song in the centre of the Tigers’ circle after the game with Warwick Proudlove.

Royals junior Morgan Davies was telling in the wet with 19 touches, 10 tackles and seven inside 50s for the Tigers, while Railways product Matt Palfrey finished with 14 possessions.

In the reserves, Great Southern footballers Bailey Bennett (Railways), Jesse Laurie (Denmark-Walpole) and Tyron Smallwood (Royals and Albany) were all named in the best players in the Tigers’ nine-point win.

Bennett had 23 touches and one goal, and Smallwood booted three goals from 19 disposals in his first senior game.