A letter from former Collingwood premiership captain Nick Maxwell has been a continual point of motivation for Albany's Darcy Cameron, who debuted for the Magpies in the AFL on Thursday night.
Cameron, who rose through the ranks of North Albany and Claremont in the WAFL, played just his second AFL match in the draw with Richmond at the MCG — the first AFL match since the coronavirus pandemic pause.
The ruckman impressed, gathering 13 disposals and eight marks in the low-scoring affair.
Cameron said it was a special moment to debut for Collingwood at the "home of footy".
"Collingwood organised, because my parents and partner couldn't be there, a video where they sent a message to me," he said.
"It was special, and I almost got emotional."
Framed letter in bedroom
Cameron was presented his jumper by Maxwell, a fitting moment given a letter he received from the Magpies great as a child.
The framed message still sits in Cameron's childhood Albany bedroom.
"To Darcy, keep up the hard work and I'll see you on the MCG one day! Go Pies!"
"I respected him as a player, he was captain of the club. I thought, 'How cool is that … I'll use that as motivation'," Cameron said.
"It all sunk in when I got traded to the Pies — that message is still sitting there.
"It was a special moment to play on the MCG, something I've dreamed of.
"Once the ball was bounced, it did feel like another game of football, which was good. I'd love to do it in front of fans and hopefully it's not too far away."
It was Cameron's first match since he was traded to the Magpies from Sydney at the end of last season after managing just one game since he was drafted in 2016.
In a strange night for football, the MCG was empty aside from players, staff and media.
Before the game, both sides wore black t-shirts during the warm up and gathered in the centre square, along with umpires, to kneel on one knee in recognition of the Black Lives Matter movement.
"It was a very special moment being out there and doing that. It was dead silent at the ground," Cameron said.
"It was so everyone recognises that and respects what it is."
The game's result was the first draw between the two AFL powerhouses since 1917.
