An AFL star who knocked out an opposing player with a brutal elbow shot described as one of the ‘worst of the modern era’ has defended his actions.
Giants player Jeremy Cameron knocked out Lions Defender Harris Andrews with the sickening hit at the Gabba on Saturday night.
‘I just played the ball on its merits and I like hitting it nice and hard,’ Cameron told Fox Footy in a post match interview.
‘It was unfortunate I hit him in the head. I definitely didn’t want to hurt him like that,’ said Cameron.
Jeremy Cameron has defended his actions the led to the brutal elbow shot that knocked out Lions Defender Harris Andrews (pictured with partner) at the Gabba on Saturday night
‘It was unfortunate I hit him in the head. I definitely didn’t want to hurt him like that,’ said Cameron (pictured with partner)
Andrews was taken from the field in a neck brace but was able to return to the bench and watch the end of the game
The moment of impact when GWS player Jeremy Cameron’s elbow connects with Lions defender Harris Andrews’ jaw
‘He’s a great young player and playing some awesome football so it would have been great to have him out on the ground and go against him head-to-head,’ added Cameron.
Cameron is under fire for the hit which has been described as a ‘brutal elbow to the head of a defenceless opponent’.
The sickening incident unfolded as the forward’s Greater Western Sydney Giants took on Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon.
The brutal hit has AFL fans calling for Cameron to have the rule book thrown at him
Fans took to social media to share their outrage at the brutal elbow
Andrews and Cameron went into a contest for the ball from opposite directions when Cameron threw a wild elbow at his opponent, knocking him out cold.
The incident will likely be referred to the tribunal with Cameron looking at a significant suspension.
Andrews was reportedly making jokes to medical staff as he was stretchered from the field but required stitches to his jaw and underwent a concussion test.
Blood was then seen coming from the defender’s mouth as teammates and medical staff rushed to his aid.
The match review will look into whether Cameron’s hit was intentional or reckless, however with the competitions focus on protecting the head’s of players Cameron is expected to receive a harsh penalty.
Footy fans vented their anger on social media over what many described as ‘an absolute dog act’.
‘That Jeremy Cameron elbow is a disgrace. One of the worst hits I’ve seen in the modern era,’ one said.
‘Not looking at ball, elbow cocked, dog act deserves the book thrown at him,’ another user added.
Yet another noted: ‘Jeremy Cameron’s hit on Harris Andrews was disgusting. Ban him for life.’
Injured Lions enforcer Mitch Robinson also took to Twitter with clear anger at what he witnessed.
‘Geez, I wish I was out there,’ he wrote with an angry face emoji.
Team mates rushed to Andrews aid as he lay unconscious on the turf
Injured Lions enforcer Mitch Robinson also took to Twitter with clear anger at what he witnessed
Cameron will likely be referred straight to the judiciary and could face six to eight weeks on the sidelines, according to most pundits.
Cameron was suspended for four weeks in 2016 after a brutal hit on another Brisbane Lions player, and prior to that hit Cameron had already been charged seven times and found guilty on six of those occasions.
Brisbane teenager Rhys Mathieson was seriously hurt when he was hit high by Cameron in a eerily similar incident to Saturday’s.
Footy fans vented their anger on social media over what many described as ‘an absolute dog act’
Darcy Gardiner of the Lions clashes with Jeremy Cameron (on the ground) after the brutal hit on his team mate