Leon Cameron Biography

Leon Cameron will take over as the new footy boss at Sydney after Charlie Gardiner departed the role to return home to Melbourne.

"Leon's experience across all aspects of the game is unmatched and we are fortunate to have someone of Leon's character and skillset transition into the role," Swans CEO Tom Harley said.

Leon Cameron joins Sydney as coaching director of their Academy.

"When I got the opportunity to work with the Swans it was a no-brainer. It allows (me) to stay in Sydney with the family, which was always the plan," Cameron told SEN radio.

Cameron was also approached about the vacant head coach role at Essendon but turned down the offer to apply for the job.

"I absolutely love coaching, but you can't just half go into a job at any level. I just kept looking at myself saying, 'I'm not ready, I'm not ready. I need to reflect'. I love footy and coaching, but I can't go in at 95 per cent," he said.

After months of discussion with the Giants' administration, Leon Cameron says he will step down as coach of GWS with the coming game against Carlton being his last.

"I know I've still got the players, but it's a sapping job and I'll be totally honest, at times that can wear you down a little bit. But in saying that, that's not just the one reason, I think there is a whole bunch of reasons. We all in life try to find that perfect moment to make that perfect decision," he said.

"This is a good decision, as much as it sounds hard, this is a good decision. The timing is right for our footy club to look for its next senior coach."

Out-of-contract GWS coach Leon Cameron says he won't be discussing a new deal with the club until the end of the 2022 season.

"When you've been involved in a club for near-on 10 years you want to make the right decision. Sometimes clubs probably don't get that right, and we've seen that in the past, and they have regrets. I don't want us to have any regrets," Cameron said.

Greater Western Sydney CEO Dave Matthews says it's time for the footy public to get off Giants coach Leon Cameron's back.

Cameron will begin his eighth season in charge of the Giants when they open their campaign against St Kilda at home on Sunday. After missing the finals last season for the first time since 2015, pre-season commentary has swirled about Cameron's long-term job security despite having a contract until the end of 2022.

"Objectively he's done a very good job coaching this club. Sometimes he attracts attention, I think, that is disproportionate with his record. He's got us to four finals series, won us finals in every one of those years," Matthews said.

"Whilst we can all dwell on some disappointments of 2020, we're not going to. If you took a line through the last five years, six years, we've been a very competitive unit and he's the right man to lead us."

Leon Cameron signs a two-year contract extension as head coach of the Giants.

"Leon has been central to building the strong culture of the GIANTS which has grown rapidly both on and off-field under his guidance. Given his success and the relationships he's formed since arriving at the club at the end of 2012, we are delighted to extend his contract for a further two seasons," Giants CEO Dave Matthews said.

Leon Cameron signs a new deal with Greater Western Sydney to remain coach of the Giants until the end of 2022.

"He's taken us to four finals series, he's won finals and there's often this perception, maybe out of Melbourne, that the Giants have been handed things on a plate," Giants chief executive Dave Matthews has said.

"He's coached against the backdrop of significant injuries, some of the changes to rules and other things have seen us lose some key players to other clubs, so I think he's done a very, very good job.

"He's a good leader and he's got a very good relationship with the players. He's certainly someone we've got every confidence in."

GWS coach Leon Cameron will create two AFL records when he leads his team into the 2019 AFL Grand Final.

The Giants mentor will have accumulated the most games as a player and/or head coach before contesting his first Grand Final.

Cameron's tally of 398 games will dwarf the previous record of 314, which Fitzroy and Sydney great Paul Roos has held for the past 23 years.

Cameron, 47, has also waited longer than any other man in League history to compete in a Grand Final. By Saturday his patience will have held out for 29 years and 172 days since his playing debut – more than two years longer than Western Bulldogs 2016 premiership coach Luke Beveridge.

Greater Western Sydney is reported to be targeting Port Adelaide assistant Matthew Nicks as head coach Leon Cameron's right-hand man for 2019.

GWS coach Leon Cameron signs a two-year contract extension to remain coach of the club until the end of 2020.

"They think that I'm the man, and I'm very confident that I'm the person that can help lead our footy club," Cameron said.

"It gives the players confidence that these are the people who are going to lead them to the ultimate prize one day. In the end it was a very simple decision for myself."

GWS coach Leon Cameron has been a conspicuous presence at the Giants' home ground Spotless Stadium, where he observed A-League grand finalists Western Sydney training last week and picked the brain of coach Tony Popovic.

"We can gain so much looking at how they train, their intensity ... their speed and agility is far better than ours," Cameron said.

"They've got really good systems here, so when people come in they know exactly what is expected, whether it's training standards, tactics or set plays.

"We're going to spend a bit more time watching them throughout the weeks when they have really intense sessions, and then game nights when they play as well."

Giants coach Leon Cameron signs two-year contract extension that will keep him in at the club until at least the end of 2018.

"It was a really easy decision to re-sign. It gives myself, our coaching staff and the playing group a great opportunity to keep progressing and hopefully reach the ultimate goal of a premiership,” said Cameron.

"We know that it's a hard, ruthless business but to have stability in the footy club and having the coach and club commit is really, really good."

Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron has escaped a hit to his hip pocket for his unorthodox approaches to an emergency umpire, receiving a suspended $2500 fine.

Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron may be punished by the AFL for approaching the emergency umpire during Sunday's loss to Fremantle at Domain Stadium.

Twice during Sunday's clash, the Giants coach stormed from his box during play to personally query the fourth umpire.

Cameron said post-match he would wait until Monday to speak to AFL umpires boss Wayne Campbell, something the AFL Coaches Association said should've been his only form of communication.

The Giants lost the free kick count 16-20 during the 21-point loss to Freo.

League CEO Gillon McLachlan said it was "not a good look" for the game.

McLachlan said the League would address the issue with Cameron.

"He's apologised to the umpires - (AFL football operations boss) Mark (Evans) I think will make a decision tomorrow," McLachlan told Channel Nine.

"It's not a good look, he shouldn't have done it.

"He (Cameron) has acknowledged that and spoken I think with the umpiring department and even with the umpires he was referring to. There's got to be a level of accountability for that behaviour."

The AFLCA added Cameron had set a poor example for coaches around the country.

"AFL coaches understand that umpires' rights to work free from interference on match day are sacrosanct," AFLCA chief Mark Brayshaw said.

"Leon engaging with the emergency umpire on Sunday at Domain Stadium set the wrong example for community coaches across the country.

"We would prefer that Leon call Wayne mid-week to get any clarification he needs and believe he'll do so next time."

Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron has apologised to the AFL and the emergency umpire he approached during Sunday's loss to Fremantle at Domain Stadium.

The League has accepted his apology but is still determining whether or not the coach will be sanctioned.

Head AFL umpires coach Hayden Kennedy said it was inappropriate for Cameron to have approached an umpire in that manner.

"There are guidelines and rules that govern these types of actions," Kennedy said.

"I'm sure the AFL will deal with it in what they think is the most appropriate manner.

"I know that Leon has apologised to both the AFL umpiring department as well as the emergency umpire. It's terrific from Leon's point of view and we're really appreciative of that."

Senior coaches leaving the coach's box to speak to umpires during the game is not a good look for the game, according to Ross Lyon.

During Sunday's Fremantle-Greater Western Sydney clash at Domain Stadium, Giants coach Leon Cameron twice left the box to run down to the bench to speak to emergency umpire Nathan Williamson.

Cameron said he was seeking clarification on some of the decisions made during the game to give feedback to his coaches and players.

Lyon said he understood how a coach could be led to that situation but he did not think it was something senior coaches should be doing.

"I don't think it's ideal," Lyon said post-match.

"Leon would have his motives for that. But I don't think it's a great look for the game.

"We all get frustrated on different weeks. I understand the frustration.

"But Leon's a really good person. He can do whatever he likes, ultimately. But I don't think it's something we should encourage."

Greater Western Sydney appears determined to maintain the rage against the Western Bulldogs, taking the animosity between the two clubs to a provocative new level on social media.

In a tweet to its 26,000 followers, the official GWS account posted a picture of former Bulldogs Leon Cameron, Ryan Griffen and Callan Ward, touting them as 'lost dogs' and using the hashtag #belessbulldog.

After serving in an assistant coaching role at the Bulldogs, Hawthorn and GWS, Leon Cameron is officially promoted to the position of head coach of the Giants.

"I think everyone is trying to ask where we're at in terms of wins (and) how do you judge a successful season in our third year," Cameron said.

"We'll judge ourselves by being more competitive, but what I will say is we're here to win. We need to win.

"Our young guys have been here for two years and we've got to learn to win and that's part of their development."

Leon Cameron is expected to be announced as GWS senior assistant after pulling out of the Power coaching race.

"I got a call this afternoon confirming Leon Cameron is no longer a candidate for our senior coaching role," Power CEO Keith Thomas said.

"We got to the point where we'd interviewed him, he was impressive, we knew his price.

"He was, right from the outset, someone we were interested in, but he's not the only guy. He chose something else, I respect that and we move on."

New GWS assistant coach Leon Cameron says he was drawn to the club because of its promising playing list and the opportunity to work with Kevin Sheedy.

"Where do you go to get an opportunity to work with a four-time premiership winning-coach in your first year? The experience you can gather from that and the advice you get along the journey and on top of that, you don't have to be Einstein to know that this club has an exciting list," Cameron said. 


Western Bulldogs legend and director of football Chris Grant says overlooking long-time friend and former teammate Leon Cameron for the club's senior coaching job was the hardest decision he's ever made.

"To get into the situation where you're not going to give him the job that he's chased, longed for and dreamt about, was the most difficult thing I've ever been a part of," Grant said.

"The hardest 15 minutes of my life was to drive to Leon's place, but I hope he respects us for it and understands that we were trying to do was the best thing for the footy club.

"Clearly, we've made a really good choice. He'll never agree with it, because he was a great candidate. But he'll get his opportunity."

Hawk Lance Franklin says he has become more team oriented thanks to Hawthorn forwards coach Leon Cameron.

"He's come to the club and he's been great with my progress as a player, and taught me a lot along the way," Franklin said of Cameron.

"(He's taught me to be) a lot more of a team player; that's been my main focus this year. I'm not saying I wasn't, but that's been something that he's brought to my game this year, and I've really enjoyed having him here."

Former Bulldogs star and current Hawthorn assistant coach Leon Cameron will put his hand up to return to the club, believing he is ready to become a senior coach following the departure of Rodney Eade.

"He's a quality fella and that's the reason why we attracted him from the Western Bulldogs in the first place," Hawthorn head coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"He's been a great acquisition to our coaching team, but we've got three home-and-away games left and hopefully finals and hopefully he'll continue to play his role here."

The Western Bulldogs plan to develop Leon Cameron with the skills required to be a senior coach, but not necessarily at their club.

"You want to develop your people and Leon is an outstanding coach and we want to give him as much exposure as possible," Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said.

"It's certainly not a succession plan for me to hand over to him in two years, it's for him to get wider knowledge so he is ready to senior coach wherever and whenever that may be."

Former Richmond and Footscray utility Leon Cameron has signalled his ambition to win a senior coaching position next season after serving an apprenticeship under Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade.

"I'll wait and see how things unfold at the end of the year and go through the interview process," Cameron said.

"The last couple of seasons I've developed under Rodney Eade. The advantage I've had is that Rodney gives me an enormous amount of scope.

"He lets me experience the things that a senior coach goes through.

"That leads to you thinking about the future. You're learning, learning, learning and if something comes up I'll go."

Western Bulldogs defender Ryan Hargrave believes assistant coach Leon Cameron has what it takes to be a senior coach, but doesn't want to lose him.

"I can absolutely see him coaching, but I wouldn't want to lose him from here," he said.

"Hopefully down the track sometime when Rodney decides to hang his hat up, Leon can slip straight into the Bulldogs role."