JEREMY Cameron has credited another outstanding individual start to the season against Essendon to a pre-season spent battling Greater Western Sydney teammate and emerging defender Sam Taylor.
Cameron kicked four goals in the Giants' 72-point drubbing of the insipid Bombers and took four marks inside 50 – and his round-one form isn't a surprise with the gifted left-footer always quick out of the blocks.
He's booted 27 goals at an average of 4.5 per game in season-openers since 2014.
Taylor is highly rated by the Giants because of his mix of defensive skills and ability to read the play, making him an exciting prospect.
The athletic backman eclipsed Jake Stringer and Shaun McKernan both in the air and at ground level while gathering 17 possessions at 94 per cent efficiency on Sunday.
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The Giants' all-time leading goalkicker with 331 from his 131 games, Cameron said having the young West Australian as his shadow over summer helped his preparation for the year.
"The whole pre-season he played on me and I'm sick of it to be honest," he said with a laugh on Tuesday.
"He's a great young player and he never gives up, and I think that was evident on the weekend.
"He might be on the back foot in a contest, but the way he wills himself to halve it or even win it is just amazing.
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"For someone in their second year to be able to do that is awesome for the team, and we're lucky to have him in our side."
The Giants had 32 scoring shots in their 12-goal win over Essendon and only some poor finishing from set shots kept the margin under 100 points.
Making that even more impressive was that GWS did it with only a small contribution from 2016 club champion and All Australian Toby Greene, who booted one goal from 14 disposals.
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The clash was Greene's second game back after ankle surgery limited his pre-season campaign, and Cameron said it was exciting to have the gifted half-forward back on the park, after he managed just seven appearances last year due to hamstring and foot issues.
"To have Toby being able to run around and play some good footy really helps (the team), and we're still working on things at training to try and jell together for when we play games," he said.
"I expect him to get more and more match fit every game, and he'll start doing the things we know he can do.
"He didn't have the season he wanted last year, but the amount of work he does in the background is enormous."
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Not surprisingly Cameron is a fan of the new rules on starting positions at centre bounces, and he expects scoring to increase once teams work out how to really take advantage of the extra space inside 50.
He said he hoped to see the return of the 100-goal season, a feat not achieved since superstar Sydney forward Lance Franklin kicked 113 majors playing for Hawthorn in 2008, if players and clubs can find a way to expose defenders.
"Growing up watching footy, it was always exciting seeing someone edging closer to 100 goals and kicking their 100th, so I'd like to see it," he said.
"There'll be more opportunities for forwards to get a quick ball in and kick goals quicker.
