Rising Collingwood ruckman Darcy Cameron enjoying time back in the nest with family

Darcy Cameron is enjoying an extended period relaxing at home in Albany after spending his first year with Collingwood in an unprecedented AFL season. After being traded from Sydney at the end of last year to seek more senior opportunity, Cameron made his Magpies debut in round one against arch rivals Richmond but played in front of empty stands due to COVID-19. The AFL, including Cameron and his Magpies teammates, spent much of this year in hubs and strict quarantine regulations. The North Albany product used the opportunity to build strong relationships in his first season with the Magpies, who beat the Eagles in a memorable elimination final at Optus Stadium. “The hub was a good way to connect with pretty much everyone and get to know them really well because you build relationships faster than you usually would, seeing them only for a few hours a day but I wouldn’t want to do it again,” he said. “Obviously to get that first game after the break was unreal, what probably would have been a sold-out crowd at the MCG to having no one there and with the draw, it was definitely weird circumstances. “To force my way back into the team throughout the year and in finals is something I will definitely remember forever because that game against the Eagles was something special. “I want to play more consistent footy next year and hopefully get as many games as possible and some team success would be nice.” The 204cm ruckman is spending valuable time with family and friends back in WA, while completing two training sessions and roughly four weight sessions a week to have him ready for pre-season return with the Magpies on January 11. Cameron played 10 games in his first season at the Magpies and was unable to see his family for most of the year and lived away from his girlfriend, Adriana Guevara, who had recently moved to Melbourne to live with him. “It was pretty tough initially not being able to see them (family) especially when you get told you’re going to play the first game during the COVID period which they would have loved to come over and watch that one but they weren’t able to,” Cameron said. “They’re pretty good with it, we spoke daily on Facetime and all that kind of stuff and they are very supportive. “Probably the harder one was Adriana had just moved over from Sydney and then that second wave of COVID hit Melbourne and I pretty much had to go straight away to Queensland and she was stuck there by herself with our dog and she had to tough it out. “We have spent a lot of time apart so we were able to handle it but it never weighed my footy down. “Once you hit the footy field its all about footy and you sort of forget everything else that is going on.”