Giants star forward Jeremy Cameron could be the unlucky name to be squeezed out of Leon Cameron's plans for next season as the club look to re-sign several key out-of-contract names.
Cameron has struggled to find his best form across the past month, booting just five goals - including two goalless games - and grabbing two marks from his last five matches.
The GWS spearhead has long been linked to a move south of the border, with Geelong looking as the best fit for both parties.
The Giants currently have a host of A-class names on big money, with Cameron, Zac Williams and Hayden Perryman all set to cause financial headaches come the end of the 2020 season.
AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson said that Cameron's latest slump could see him walk to Geelong.
โRemember when Cameron used to come charging out like an old-fashioned full-forward and โif you get in front of me, youโre going to wear oneโ? Everyone said โJeremy you canโt do thatโ, so he stopped doing that โฆ Heโs overcorrected his aggression,โ Robinson said.
โHe either stays at the Giants or he goes to Geelong โ thereโs my opinion.โ
Cameron was set to collect close to $1.5 million in 2020 before the effects of COVID-19 strained the AFL's financial situation.
While Cameron was ranked as the highest paid player in 2020, he could be looking for a pay upgrade in his next contract with the Giants.
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd said that Cameron should be expecting a pay cut when opening negotiations for his future.
โWhy would you pay someone $1.2 million when heโs going to be hot and cold with his effort?โ Lloyd said on Footy Classified.
โYou pay someone over a million dollars โ to Dustin Martin or to a (Patrick) Dangerfield โ because you know what youโre going to get week-in, week-out. At the moment, Jeremy is picking and choosing when he wants to compete.
โHe wasnโt (overpaid) last year, but this year he hasnโt been able to get out of his form slump because his attitude hasnโt been right to play the game.
โI wouldnโt pay him over $1 million next year. I would give him a massive pay cut โ obviously weโre in the climate where we need to โ but on his performance, he doesnโt deserve to be in the top 10 (highest) paid players in the game.โ
The Giants have blooded plenty of youth this season, warranting a number of youngsters such as Jye Caldwell and Jackson Hately to be chasing pay upgrades in the near future.
The Giants are set to face Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
