A Cameron Fairytale

Two years ago he was a lumbering log struggling to get a kick in the North Albany reserves side. And now in a remarkable transformation Luke Cameron is an elite performer in the Great Southern League.

He has capped a wonderful 2013 season by winning the prestigious Kleeman Medal as the fairest-and-best footballer in the competition and will be a key player when North Albany clash with Railways in the grand final in Albany this coming weekend.

The 22-year-old Cameron, a high-leaping ruckman who occasionally has a stint at centre-half-forward, said after winning the Kleeman Medal from Denmark-Walpole’s Dave MacDonald that he would like to try himself at a higher level.

He is considering a move to Perth to take part in Claremont’s pre-season training program. “I haven’t made up my mind yet,” he said. “I have a good job as an insurance broker (working with his father Gerard’s company) and I love the lifestyle in Albany.”

Cameron is the elder brother of Claremont colts ruckman and WA under-18 representative Darcy, who will be an important member of the Tigers side which will meet South Fremantle in the colts second semi-final at Claremont Oval on Sunday.

He admitted that he was battling to get a kick in the reserves team when he was vastly overweight a couple of years ago. He then decided to apply himself in a bid to become a better player. He went on to a strict diet, reduced his consumption of alcohol and trained hard.

“I lost almost 40 kilograms,” he declared proudly. He stands about 191cm and has reduced his weight from 129kg to a sleek 91kg. He deserves considerable admiration for his discipline.

His father Gerard, now 53, played for the Claremont colts side in 1980 before returning to Albany to play for North Albany and he won the Kleeman Medal in 1984. He was then recruited by South Fremantle as a ruckman and made six appearances in the league side in 1985 when his teammates included Stephen Michael, Jon Dorotich, Craig Edwards, Mark Bairstow, Benny Vigona, Nicky Winmar, Noel Carter, Brad Collard, Wally Matera and Paul Vasoli.

Cameron then returned to Albany where he again won the Kleeman Medal in 1988. Luke’s triumph this year gave the family the distinction of providing the only father-and-son winners in the 55-year history of the medal, which was won by former Claremont and North Melbourne stars Jim and Phil Krakouer in 1975 and 1977, respectively. The Krakouers remain the only brothers to have won the medal.

Both Luke and Darcy Cameron took time out last summer from their pre-season football training to compete in the annual Cottesloe-to-Rottnest swim in a four man team with their father and a cousin.

By Ken Casellas