North Albany’s Darcy Cameron produces strong preliminary final display but Magpies lose to Swans by one point

Another quality performance on the big stage from Darcy Cameron was not enough for him to reach a maiden AFL grand final, as Collingwood lost to Sydney in an epic at the SCG on Saturday.

The former North Albany junior was a telling figure in the preliminary final, with some crucial moments around the stoppages and a second quarter goal, but his side went down by a point in a heart-stopping finish.

The Magpies trailed by 36 points early in the second half but, as they have done so many times this season, clawed their way back into the contest.

The Swans led by 23 points at three-quarter-time before Trent Bianco kicked the first major of the final term for the visitors.

Tom Papley’s third goal of the night appeared to have the Swans home but the Magpies kicked the next three majors via Brody Mihocek, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Steel Sidebottom to trim the deficit to three points.

The Magpies kept coming and had several inside 50 entries in the dying moments.

However they could only manage two rushed behinds as the Swans clung on to a famous preliminary final win, 14.11 (95) to 14.10 (94).

Cameron, playing against his former teammates, was superb with 17 disposals, 16 hit-outs, five tackles and one goal.

He also had five clearances, 311m gained, three inside 50s, six score involvements, and 10 of his possessions were contested.

Cameron’s only real blemish was a missed shot on goal in the first two minutes of the third quarter.

The performance capped a stellar season for Cameron in Magpies colours but his bid to play in an AFL grand final fell short by the smallest of margins.

After managing just one senior game in three years with the Swans, Cameron was traded at the end of 2019 and has relished his time with the Magpies.

He played 24 games this season and averaged 13 disposals, 2.5 clearances and 17.6 hit outs, while also kicking 20 goals.