| Cameron Ling | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Ling pictured after the2009 AFL Grand Final | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Cameron Neville Ling | ||
| Nickname(s) | Lingy | ||
| Date of birth | (1981-02-27)27 February 1981 (age 44) | ||
| Place of birth | Geelong, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Geelong Falcons/St Joseph's | ||
| Draft | 38th overall,1999 Geelong | ||
| Height | 189 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 92 kg (203 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2000–2011 | Geelong | 246 (139) | |
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Cameron Ling (born 27 February 1981) is a formerAustralian rules footballer and three-time premiership player who played for theGeelong Football Club in theAustralian Football League (AFL). Atagger at 1.89 metres (6 ft 2 in) and 94 kilograms (207 lb), Ling was also a premiership-winningcaptain at the club in2011.
He is now a commentator on AFL football for theSeven Network and a special comments commentator on AFL football forABC Radio Grandstand. He is also a member of the selection panel for the AFLAll-Australian team and theAFL Rising Star Award.[1]
Ling played junior football for the Geelong Falcons[2] as a full-forward and was drafted by his hometown club, theGeelong Football Club.
In2007, his on-field performances were rewarded with selection in the2007 All-Australian team on the interchange. He also played a solid role in their2007 premiership later that year in which Geelong broke a 44-year premiership drought and won by a record-breaking 119 points againstPort Adelaide, a record that stands to this day.[3]
Ling served as vice-captain in their2009 season, including the2009 premiership in which he was considered among Geelong's best players.
On 20 January 2010, Cameron Ling was announced as theteam's new captain, taking over from the recently retiredTom Harley. He captained the Cats in the2010 AFL season and the2011 AFL season. In 2011, he captained Geelong to theirthird premiership in 5 years, againstCollingwood. He kicked the final goal of the match after a turnover fromHéritier Lumumba.
Shortly after guiding the Cats to their 9th premiership win in their history, Cameron Ling announced his retirement on 5 October 2011.[4] Being able to nullify the opposition's best midfielder whilst managing to influence matches has made Cameron Ling regarded as one of the best-ever taggers to play AFL.[5] He was succeeded as captain byJoel Selwood.
In November 2011, Ling announced he would joinChannel 7 in a commentary role on one of their Saturday night games; he also has commentated on Friday night matches. At the beginning of the 2012Associated Public Schools of Victoria football season, Ling took up the position of Director of Football atGeelong Grammar School.
On 9 October 2013, Ling was appointed to work one day per week during the 2014 season on the development of theNorth Melbourne leadership group.[6]
Ling is an Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador for the Australian Government.[7]
Outside of the AFL, he co-hostsTom, Lingy & Loggy onK Rock 95.5.[8]
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In what started as a joke, following the hype of the Catsdrought-breaking premiership, Cameron Ling was touted as the 'mayor of Geelong', a humorous reference to the way he is idolised by Geelong people.
On Wednesday 3 October 2007, though, Geelong's then Mayor, councillor Bruce Harwood, agreed that he'd be happy to temporarily step down for Ling. Ling's interest in politics and his intelligence is widely known, while it's been reported that he took a significant interest in local council and leadership during his days atSt. Joseph's College, Geelong.
During the Premiership celebratory parade through Geelong's streets on 3 October 2007, Ling acknowledged his title as mayor; however, despite the contention it raised, it was never formalised and was merely a tongue-in-cheek publicity stunt.
In December 2012, Ling's partner Nicole Dodds gave birth to their first child Max Ling.
In 2020 he was named in theSt Joseph’s College team of champions, recognising the bestVFL/AFL players to have attended the school.[9]
G | Goals | K | Kicks | D | Disposals | T | Tackles |
B | Behinds | H | Handballs | M | Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | ||||
| 2000 | Geelong | 45 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 26 | 71 | 25 | 7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 4.5 | 2.6 | 7.1 | 2.5 | 0.7 |
| 2001 | Geelong | 45 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 104 | 61 | 165 | 43 | 30 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 8.0 | 4.7 | 12.7 | 3.3 | 2.3 |
| 2002 | Geelong | 45 | 21 | 11 | 8 | 248 | 167 | 415 | 85 | 49 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 11.8 | 8.0 | 19.8 | 4.0 | 2.3 |
| 2003 | Geelong | 45 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 280 | 242 | 522 | 112 | 53 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 13.3 | 11.5 | 24.9 | 5.3 | 2.5 |
| 2004 | Geelong | 45 | 25 | 16 | 5 | 357 | 235 | 592 | 168 | 72 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 14.3 | 9.4 | 23.7 | 6.7 | 2.9 |
| 2005 | Geelong | 45 | 23 | 11 | 9 | 307 | 260 | 567 | 139 | 50 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 13.4 | 11.3 | 24.6 | 6.0 | 2.2 |
| 2006 | Geelong | 45 | 22 | 10 | 3 | 248 | 255 | 503 | 131 | 61 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 11.3 | 11.6 | 22.9 | 6.0 | 2.8 |
| 2007 | Geelong | 45 | 24 | 28 | 6 | 215 | 261 | 476 | 107 | 69 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 9.0 | 10.9 | 19.8 | 4.5 | 2.9 |
| 2008 | Geelong | 45 | 23 | 15 | 5 | 237 | 309 | 546 | 106 | 79 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 10.3 | 13.4 | 23.7 | 4.6 | 3.4 |
| 2009 | Geelong | 45 | 22 | 7 | 7 | 235 | 265 | 500 | 100 | 106 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 10.7 | 12.0 | 22.7 | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| 2010 | Geelong | 45 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 211 | 253 | 464 | 76 | 112 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 10.0 | 12.0 | 22.1 | 3.6 | 5.3 |
| 2011 | Geelong | 45 | 21 | 17 | 9 | 265 | 192 | 457 | 74 | 92 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 12.6 | 9.1 | 21.8 | 3.5 | 4.4 |
| Career | 246 | 139 | 73 | 2752 | 2526 | 5278 | 1166 | 780 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 11.2 | 10.3 | 21.5 | 4.7 | 3.2 | ||
| Brownlow Medal votes | |
| Season | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| Total | 71 |
