Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph says Craig Cameron is taking on the toughest job in football at Gold Coast.
Despite having a contract tying him to GWS until 2019, Cameron was giving his marching orders by the Giants today after yesterday telling the club he wanted out.
The veteran list manager’s departure comes 12 days before next week’s NAB AFL National Draft.
“There are so many issues up there at Gold Coast,” Ralph told SEN’s The Run Home.
“It’s the hardest job in football given he’s got to try and retain Tom Lynch. He’s on a hiding to nothing but then again no one thought Josh Kelly would stay (at GWS) but he did.”
Lynch's current contract expires at the end of 2018 and rumours already abound the key forward and club co-captain is very much a gettable commodity.
In a move that has riled GWS, Ralph believes the Suns daring move to poach Cameron is proof the club means business.
“It shows that Gold Coast has got some ticker,” he said.
“It’s not like they are saying we are on the AFL’s teat, they’ve gone and got the best people.”
It’s been reported GWS has demanded Cameron exclude himself from Gold Coast’s national draft strategy.
The Suns confirmed incumbent list manager Scott Clayton will lead the club through the draft period, but his role at the beyond that is clouded. St Kilda is said to be interested in securing the long-time recruiter and list manager.
Ralph said he understood why the Giants were angered by Cameron’s move.
“I completely understand they (GWS) would be upset and they’d say you are contracted until 2019, but we don’t pay you for nearly 12 months and you go and spend that IP at the November 24 draft for another club,” Ralph said.
Cameron has a previous working relationship with Gold Coast CEO Mark Evans after the pair worked together at Melbourne in the early 2000s.
Gold Coast has won 16 of its past 66 matches and been racked by player retention issues.
Those to depart include Dion Prestia, Jaeger O'Meara, Harley Bennell, Charlie Dixon, Adam Saad, Gary Ablett, Brandon Matera, Josh Caddy and Trent McKenzie.
Another band of previously promising players, including Matt Shaw, Rory Thompson and Sean Lemmens, have failed to come on.