Cameron Ling Biography

Cameron Ling and Paul Kelly have been invited by Cats and Swans, respectively, to present the cup to the 2022 Grand Final victors.

Nathan Buckley's decision to bench skipper Scott Pendlebury during a crucial period of Collingwood's loss to St Kilda is lambasted by Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling.

"Can I say if there wasn't an injury to Scott Pendlebury ... I can't believe that he's sat 14 minutes on the bench in the third quarter in a game that was there to be won," Ling told 3AW.

"That is unbelievable. The bloke's a star. Get him on the ground. You've got to have your captain and your superstar on the ground ... unless he is injured."

A frustrated Buckley said post-game that Pendlebury "probably wasn't as sharp" as he had been in previous games.

"We put a lot of emphasis on our leaders and we ask a lot of them," Buckley said.

"If you're going to be a leader in this caper, you've got to keep buttering up and backing up.

"Pendles, more often than not, he brings the right intent and energy. He was probably a little bit quieter tonight."

Media personalities were on hand to raise money to find a cure for motor neurone disease in the Big Freeze 2 campaign led by Neale Daniher on Queen's Birthday.

All hands were on deck to help raise money for the cause, with Eddie McGuire, David Koch, Samantha Armytage, Kevin Sheedy, Matthew Richardson, Jonathan Brown, Matthew Lloyd, Cameron Ling, Dave Hughes, Gerard Whateley and Anthony Lehmann going down a slide at the MCG and plunging into an icy pool.

"My heart goes out to other MND sufferers, but they would all be overwhelmed and encouraged by the support that the community has given to the cause," Daniher told ABC radio.

"We keep our costs down, we're a small foundation, to make sure that every dollar counts."

Cameron Ling will return to Geelong in 2015 to work with the club's senior players in a consulting role similar to that he performed at North Melbourne.

"The Cats 2011 premiership captain Cameron Ling will take up a role as an off-field player development consultant, working mainly with the club's senior players on a needs basis," a statement from the Cats said.

Cameron Ling chooses not to continue in his role as a leadership consultant to North Melbourne next year as his television commitments with Channel 7 are set to expand in 2015.

Cameron Ling has backed down from AFL coaching aspirations, declaring he wants to remain in the media.

Ling, who combines Channel Seven commentary duties with a part-time role as a leadership coach at North Melbourne, had three clubs interested in securing his services when he announced earlier in the year he was entertaining a move to full-time coaching.

"It was a hard decision because some really good people were having conversations with me about going and working at their football clubs," Ling said.

Melbourne coach Paul Roos says Cameron Ling's lack of desire to become a senior coach has likely ruled him out of being his successor as coach of the Demons.

"I wouldn't think Cameron would be a candidate for the succession plan, because you've got to want to be a senior coach," Roos said.

"I think what Cameron would be a candidate for at any club is an assistant coach. I don't think he needs to make a decision to be a senior coach now."

Cameron Ling admits to having doubts about pursuing a coaching career despite heavily courted by several clubs.

"There is a big strain on your time, and that is with any job, so I'm not trying to make excuses here," Ling said.

"Is it something that is 20 hours a week sitting on a computer just staring at a screen looking at edits and games and everything like that, and 20 hours of working with players and communicating, or is it five hours of sitting in front of a computer and the rest is working with players?

"I'm not one who loves just sitting there in front of a computer screen watching and re-watching and fast forwarding and [looking at] different camera angles."

Cameron Ling confirms meeting with the Demons regarding a potential coaching role at Melbourne in 2015.

"I had a quick coffee with a couple of the Melbourne guys, (Paul Roos) included, threw around what was happening from their end and they sussed out what was happening from mine," Ling said.

Ling also plays down the incident where he was berated by Carlton coach Mick Malthouse while working as a Seven Network commentator.

"Mick was frustrated and a bit agitated and I just calmly said 'Mick, you understand I've got no control over that - don't speak like that' and he was fine," Ling said.

"He was good enough to give me a call and just see if everything was OK and I appreciated that."

Melbourne coach Paul Roos confirms that the Demons are interested in approaching Cameron Ling about about being Roos' successor after serving an apprenticeship.

"From now on I'm really going to start thinking about it and start talking to some people and start having some conversations with my family as well and see where they're placed," Ling said.

Ling admits to still having a lot to learn about the coaching caper and is unsure about only serving a short apprenticeship.

"If you look at Ken Hinkley and you look at Alan Richardson, maybe the longer apprenticeship is the better option," he said.

"I want to be successful and that's a part of my competitive nature."

North Melbourne has put its hat in the ring to snare former Geelong skipper Cameron Ling in a full-time coaching role next year.

Ling has dipped his toes into coaching this season at North, working with the Roos' leadership group in a part-time role.

The 2011 premiership captain is in high demand as he weighs up whether to embark on a full-time coaching career or continue his budding media career, with Melbourne, Richmond and Geelong among the clubs already linked to him.

"We'll put forward an option which we think is a really good opportunity for 'Lingy', but ultimately he'll have to make the decision that he thinks is in his best interests," North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said.

"That will be a decision that will unfold in the next six to eight weeks."

Mick Malthouse says he has no issue with Cameron Ling, despite an apparent verbal stoush between the pair during Saturday night's Sydney Swans-Carlton game at the SCG.

The Blues coach was reportedly unhappy with Channel Seven's replays of his agitated reactions in the coaches' box during the game. He confronted Ling, who was boundary commentator for the network during the coverage, at half-time in a tense exchange on the field.

But Malthouse said on Monday night that he had no problem with Ling, who is considering whether to leave the commentary box for a coaching career next year, and denied there was any spat during the game.

"I get on very well with Cameron Ling. He misinterpreted that I was talking to him; it certainly wasn't him," Malthouse told reporters in footage aired on Seven's Talking Footy.

"I admire him, I reckon he's a fantastic bloke. I think that if you spoke to him, he would see it that way as well."

Cameron Ling addresses young players from the NAB AFL Academy squad.

"They've really got to enjoy their footy and be passionate about it," Ling said.

"But, what I was saying to them is, if they're going to do it and make it to where they want to get to, it takes a lot of hard work and real commitment and discipline to improve."

After accepting a part-time leadership consultancy role at North Melbourne, Ling says he is undecided about any additional coaching roles.

"It's something I'll ease in to over time and I'll help out their young leaders as best I can," he said.

"They're a good young group who are really motivated and really driven to try and improve.

"I enjoy working with motivated people who want to really get the best out of themselves and really want to help the team."

Cameron Ling says he is enjoying his role in the media and that he lacks sufficient motivation to take up a coaching role.

"I'm really enjoying what I'm doing now and I'm pretty keen to do that again for another year next year," media commentator Ling said on Seven's Game Day.

"I'm probably not ready to be jumping into coaching. It's something you've got to be really excited about and I reckon there's a couple of other guys who'd be better for that."

Simon Black decides to play a 16th season with Brisbane Lions rather than pursue an assistant coaching career with Carlton.

Cameron Ling was also on the Blues' radar but will remain with Channel 7 in 2013.

Retired Geelong captain Cameron Ling has had a new AFL-AIS Academy award named after him.

"I think he represents all of the values that we talk about and that we try and instil in all the members of the academy," AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan said.

"Cameron was the Madden medallist recently [awarded by the AFL Players' Association], which means he was recognised for his contribution to the community and not just to the game on the field.

"That's why we think Cameron Ling has lived the things that we want our young players to aspire to."

Cameron Ling says his only regret about retiring is leaving after just one season under coach Chris Scott.

"The only tiniest regret I have is I would have liked a couple more years with Scotty, just to work with him longer," Ling said.

"He's just a really good person, a really good coach who analyses the game incredibly well and motivates players really well.

"I consider myself a very, very lucky person to have been able to have [played under] two tactical coaches. I loved my time with Bomber and I loved the 12 months with Scotty as well."

The AFLPA has awarded former Geelong skipper Cameron Ling the 2011 Madden Medal.

The Madden Medal is awarded to the retiring player who throughout his career has "demonstrated on-field excellence, personal development and growth, as well as community spirit".

"I am really, really rapt with this award," Ling said.

"I was just happy to be nominated with such a good group of people and I'm really proud. It's fantastic. I'm almost speechless. There are blokes I rate highly as footballers and as people who have won it before and that means a lot to me."

Geelong skipper Cameron Ling has announced his retirement after 12 seasons and three flags with the Cats.

"I've been a bit humbled and very pleased with the fact that so many people have said, 'Play on, you should play on, you've still got something to offer, you've had a terrific season, you did this, you did that'," Ling said.

"That's nice. It's a hell of a lot better than people saying, 'It's about time, you should have gone a long time ago'.

"I do know I'm 100 per cent certain that I'm finished and therefore I'm content with everything I've done and it's nice to know I finished on a real positive and a real high, and I supposed finished with being able to contribute something to the footy club."

Cameron Ling says any number of candidates could take over as captain of the Cats in 2012 with the club having great leadership depth.

"I think that's been the beauty of the footy club over the past six or seven years; there's such a big group of leaders who really contribute," Ling said.

"All these guys who are leading the team as well and really selfless quality people who are pushing the team in the right direction."

Geelong skipper Cameron Ling has reinjured his hamstring and is now in doubt to lead the cats in round 1 of the 2011 regular season.

"It's disappointing but it's a long season and he's very much a part of our plans. If he misses a few games then it won't be much of an issue in the big picture," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.

"Hamstrings are one of those things that you don't want to put a time frame on, because what tends to happen is they try to push to make that deadline."

Veteran skipper Cameron Ling will have Joel Selwood as his vice captain in a reworked Geelong leadership group.

Geelong captain Cameron Ling's comments about the umpires after the St Kilda game has landed him a $3,000 fine from the AFL.

"It's a hard, physical game and there is going to be some hard, physical contact in a game. We're not playing netball and sometimes some people throughout the game forget that," Ling said in a post-match interview.

"You've got to let things go a little bit because there's 44 guys out there trying as hard as they possibly can to win a game of football."

Cameron Ling will lead Geelong's premiership defence as captain this season, with an expanded leadership group behind him.

"It's got a bit of romanticism to it - Cameron supported the Cats when he was a kid, played for St Josephs, played for the Falcons, played for our VFL team, played for our AFL team, became an All-Australian, has finished in the top-four seven times in our best-and-fairest and is a dual premiership player both in the pre-season comp and the home-and-away season," Cats chief executive Brian Cook said.

"It speaks volumes for him - not only does he meet his commitments on the field and off the field, but he displays great values."

Cameron Ling will head Geelong's leadership group that includes Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Corey, Corey Enright, Joel Selwood, James Kelly and Harry Taylor. Kelly and Taylor are new additions to the group for 2010.

New Geelong captain Cameron Ling says he has confidence in the club's leadership group to drive the Cats towards continued success.

"I don't think we need to change too much, especially myself, I don't need to change too much about the way I go about things as a leader," Ling said.

"These guys do a great job, and I think as a whole group we're just going to continually push the team and the club in the direction we want to get to so we can have more success."

Cameron Ling is voted as footy's sexiest player according to the Footy Fans Survey conducted by the Herald Sun.

"Obviously it's a bit of a piss take," Ling said.

"A few of the guys in the change rooms must have voted for me."

Geelong's narrow loss to St Kilda takes a heavy toll with four of the Cats' premiership players to miss this week.

Matthew Scarlett, Cameron Ling, Darren Milburn and James Kelly have all been sidelined.

The loss of All-Australian defenders Scarlett and Milburn has opened the door for 19-year-old Tom Gillies to make his debut, while Ryan Gamble, David Wojcinksi and Tom Lonergan come back into the side.

Scarlett has back tightness, Ling has knee tendonitis, Milburn rolled his ankle and Kelly was left out after pulling up this week with a tight hamstring. Kelly and Scarlett are expected to return for the round 16 game against Melbourne, while the club last night said Ling's condition would be monitored over the next week.

The football world is salivating with anticipation, but Saint Nick Dal Santo may not share such enthusiasm about Sunday's heavyweight battle against Geelong.

Playing Geelong has not been an enjoyable experience for Dal Santo during the past two years because of one man - Cameron Ling.

In the past three games between Geelong and St Kilda, Ling has not only done a shutdown role but inflicted pain the other way.

Cat Cameron Ling and Freo's Antoni Grover have accepted the reprimands handed down by the match review panel.

Both players were booked on striking charges during Sunday's clash at Subiaco and risked the prospect of suspension had they chosen to fight their reports at the AFL Tribunal.

However their clubs have opted to ensure their men are free to line up this weekend, meaning both Ling and Grover will be forced to carry demerit points for the next 12 months.

Geelong's Cameron Ling can escape with a reprimand for striking Fremantle's Nick Suban, while Bomber Mark McVeigh is facing a week on the sidelines with a level three striking offence.

Geelong is set to welcome back skipper Tom Harley and vice-captain Cameron Ling for Saturday's clash with Sydney.

"The one thing about Tommy is that he wouldn't play the game, or he wouldn't ask us to play, if he wasn't ready to play," Geelong coach Mark Thompson said regarding Harley.

"He's done a heap of running and training so his level of fitness will be up there."

Cameron Ling will be out of action for up to a month after Geelong revealed today he was suffering from an Achilles injury.

Sam Mitchell not only expects another showdown in Friday night's rematch with his Grand Final shadow, Cameron Ling, he wants to play on him.

Geelong president Frank Costa has entered the club's captaincy debate, backing Cameron Ling as Tom Harley's successor.

An embarrassing blunder has left Geelong footballer Cameron Ling with his own bar but no licence to sell alcohol.

Dean Solomon is suspended for eight weeks by the AFL tribunal for striking Geelong's Cameron Ling with his elbow that caused Ling to suffer a fractured cheekbone.

The eight-week suspension is the most severe suspension ever handed to a player since Greg Williams was suspended for nine weeks in 1997.

"I don't feel very good at all, I'm quite ashamed of my actions - at the time, I knew straight away I had gone outside the rules," Solomon said while providing evidence for himself via a video link from Perth and pleading guilty.

"It hasn't been easy on myself or my family, I'm very upset with the situation I've put myself in."

Fremantle will seek legal advice on the length of the suspension.