GOALKICKING ace Jess Cameron will attempt to combine football and cricket in what she admits will be a difficult sporting partnership.
Cameron virtually guaranteed herself a place in next season's AFL national women's league after an outstanding six-goal performance in Melbourne's thumping win over the Brisbane Lions at the MCG last Sunday.
While she seeks to be drafted by one of the inaugural clubs, the former Australia top-order batsman still wants to continue her cricket career, so long as the respective schedules don't force her to abandon one sport. The AFL has flagged the possibility of the first season of the women’s competition being played late in summer.
"It's something I want to do. Whether or not Cricket Australia, Cricket Victoria and the AFL allow me to do that, I don't know. But I'll do it until I have to decide and I haven't made my decision yet,” the 26-year-old said.
"I would certainly encourage any girl to continue to play whatever sport they play as long as they can. I'm just looking forward to playing both.
"I'd love to play with anyone. Getting drafted to any (AFL) team is something I would really love.''
On the prospect of the AFL women's competition starting in early February, Cameron said: "I think it would impact more on club cricket. The (cricket) BBL and WNCL are all done and dusted by the end of January.''
Carlton games record-holder Craig Bradley is the last player to combine football and cricket. He played Shield cricket with Victoria and South Australia before concentrating on a 375-game AFL career that included two premierships. Adelaide rookie Alex Keath has played first-class cricket for Victoria but is yet to make his AFL debut.
Melbourne women's coach Michelle Cowan admitted she was pleasantly surprised with Cameron, particularly with the 162cm forward’s marking prowess.
"I challenged her on Friday night after seeing her train. She probably didn't train as well as she played,” Cowan said.
“Her overhead marking and aerial work were really good. She was really strong in her marking contests and her skills and kicking were elite as well.”
Cameron, who played in a winning World Cup cricket team, is 11cm shorter than male counterpart Jay Kennedy-Harris, the smallest player on Melbourne's senior list. But she underlined her expertise to take one-grab overhead marks with nine goals in her debut game for club team Diamond Creek.
"When I was playing cricket, I certainly had a football in my hand any time in the warm-up. So football has been part of my life the whole time,'' she said.
