Player Watch #44: Cameron Zurhaar - has re-signed until the end of 2029 - finishes 6th in the 24' SBM

[Harris 10]

If I was a player coming out of contract I wouldn’t sign until I knew who the coach was.

 

[The Filth Wizard]

It was always end of season.

ROOS STAR PARKS TALKS

North Melbourne forward Cameron Zurhaar

44

Cameron Zurhaar

Age

26

Ht

190cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.2

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.6

3star

M

3.1

3star

T

2.9

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

9.7

2star

K

5.9

2star

HB

3.9

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.6

4star

G

1.1

5star

D

10.2

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.8

4star

has put off talks over a new contract until season’s end, according to his manager.


Zurhaar, who’s been one of the Kangaroos’ most important forward 50 players over the past four seasons, has returned to form in recent weeks, booting 13 goals from his past five games despite North losing every match.

But Zurhaar’s manager Anthony McConville told the Herald Sun “both parties have put talks on hold” at this stage.



“He is playing in that role where he does rely on ball movement and the timing isn’t right to have fruitful discussions. We will leave it for now and talk to them later in the year,” McConville told the Herald Sun.

Zurhaar, who turned 24 last weekend, has blossomed at North since being selected in the 2016 rookie draft.

He’s been among the top two leading goalkickers at the club for the past four straight years, including topping the table in 2020 with 18 majors from 16 games.

 

[Themanbun]

post season is not good. When they wait that long, they usually have something already organised.

Yes and no. Rumours of our club's contract negotiations suggest they aren't very enjoyable. Now change has been made, it could legitimately be a case of "let me play footy without that BS. See you at the table at the end of the season."

 

[Devington]

Yes and no. Rumours of our club's contract negotiations suggest they aren't very enjoyable. Now change has been made, it could legitimately be a case of "let me play footy without that BS. See you at the table at the end of the season."

Also depends on when the decision was made. 2 months ago? Last week? We also kinda don't have a coach right now lol, I don't begrudge anyone waiting for us to get that sorted before they decide.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Also depends on when the decision was made. 2 months ago? Last week? We also kinda don't have a coach right now lol, I don't begrudge anyone waiting for us to get that sorted before they decide.

To say nothing about how our new aggressive style of play flatters him.

 

[ferball]

Yes, Zur! Six-goal Roo buoyant about future​

Marc McGowan2 min readJuly 18, 2022 - 11:20AMNCA NewsWire0 comments



North Melbourne’s six-goal hero Cameron Zurhaar says Saturday’s chaotic victory over Richmond is overdue reward for the “tough slog” the Kangaroos have endured.

Zurhaar racked up five goals to half-time off as many disposals – three of them snaps – then gleefully accepted ruckman Todd Goldstein’s match-winning tap inside the last three minutes to give North the lead for good.

The 24-year-old forward enforcer knew it was his day when his fourth shot at goal bounced perfectly from the left goalpost in for another six points.

Zurhaar twice kicked five majors in a game in the 2019 season but this was a career-best effort and came at the end of a hellish week where the Roos sacked coach David Noble after five wins in 38 matches.

There was still plenty of barely believable drama and chances for both sides after Zurhaar’s goal but it ended up being the difference in North Melbourne’s four-point victory.

President Sonja Hood was among the well-wishers who embraced in the Kangaroos’ euphoric rooms afterwards.

“I’ve never really done it before,” Zurhaar told News Corp.

“You could say it was the game-winner but it’s a great feeling. I carried on a bit but I carry on a bit with all my goals. I was just so happy to get the win – it means the world.

“We’ve worked so hard this year and things weren’t going our way but we needed that win. It was a big reward for effort.

“It’s been a difficult year but the spirit of the boys has been unbelievable and everyone’s still up and about every single training session. To get that win is just incredible.”

The triumph was just North Melbourne’s second this season and ended a 14-game losing skid, moving them within three percentage points of second-from-bottom West Coast.

The Roos’ remaining opponents are Hawthorn, Essendon, Sydney, Adelaide and Gold Coast.

Zurhaar, who is out of contract this year and parked negotiations in May until the end of the season, remains tight-lipped about his playing future but speaks like someone who plans to be around for a while.

He raved about Paul Curtis’ “unbelievable” three-goal game against the Tigers, No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis’ return to the senior side, Aiden Bonar’s performance down back and “electric” small forward Phoenix Spicer.

Flynn Perez also kept Richmond’s in-form Mr-Fix-It Liam Baker to only eight touches in 75 minutes opposed to one another.

“We’ve got some extremely exciting talents and I’m excited to see where they go,” Zurhaar said.

“I believe a lot in the young boys and we’ve got some serious talent but, unfortunately, we just don’t have the top-end talent and a bit of maturity, but I’m sure in the next two years we will be competing with the top sides.”

I have had a feeling he is considering leaving for a while now. This article is good to see.

After one of his early goals I swear I saw him go to tap his heart and grab the jumper and hold back on doing it and thought "that's a bit sus."

But over the course of the game I thought something happened and we won him back a little. Still don't think we've got him tho.

 

[WayneShimmiesTheBush]

I have another theory as to why Cam hasn't signed yet. I am not saying he will sign or he wont sign, but reading posts on this board, it was quite clear he was one players that was not happy with how things were going under Noble. Along with other players, he looked confused with the game plan, looked miserable out on the filed, and looked like he would rather have been somewhere else instead of the football field. However, since Noble has departed, you could see that the shackles have been released and the boys are playing and enjoying their football again. I mean how long has it been since we saw Cam celebrating goals like he did on the weekend? He looked like the Cam of old.

So my theory on this is, if he really is happier and is willing to commit to an extension, it probably wouldn't look good to announce it now. I mean it would just look so obvious that Cam or other players who weren't happy with how things were under Noble, suddenly announce a contract extension one week after Noble has departed. The media would definitely find a way to turn that into a negative for club and player.

I am actually hoping (more wishing) that the club has got deals in place but will announce them later on in the year as a form of respect to Noble. I don't think Noble was a bad person but he was definitely out of his depth with coaching. I may have also come up with this theory to make myself feel better, as I don't really want to believe we will lose any of our talented kids ha ha ha.

 

[Frank Thring]

I hope he stays. Type of player that will kick 5+ in finals. Would most likely lay out as player or 2 in the process. Built for finals

 

[The acurate one]

25 goals in the last 11 games, if he can get over his poor starts to the season, he will be a 40-50 goal/season forward. Would hurt to lose him as he is just entering his prime.

He was playing injured early in the season and as a quasi CHF, adding in our dysfunction and it was always going to be a tough ask.

 

[Psicosis]

North Melbourne's Cam Zurhaar is Too Good For Billy - The Rush Hour with JB & Billy

omny.fm

Couple nice quotes in there from Cam.

“We are going to build something pretty special”

“I’m pretty happy where I’m at”

Just wants to get the nice big pay packet which we will give him.

 

[HBFlanker]

70% gone according to Mark Stevens

Mark Stevens

Age

49

Ht

194cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.4

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

4.3

3star

M

3.5

4star

T

1.3

3star

G

1.0

4star

No current season stats available

D

5.8

2star

K

3.6

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.4

3star

G

2.0

5star

 

[king rising]

Out the door

 

[Harris 10]

70% gone according to Mark Stevens

That would be really disappointing

 

[The Nostradamus]

Announce clarko and convince him to stay asap

 

[Clarke is King]

I will cry

 

[HBFlanker]

He absolutely needs to stay. needs to be the number one priority. Id be happy to pay him 700k

 

[Billy Not Really]

If this club lets him walk in any way shape or form we've just cooked our rebuild in a big way. He's a crown jewel in the forward line.

 

[King Corey]

FFS. Rate him through the roof.

We don't just need a coach, we need a friggin football manager and list manager who know how to retain talent.

For all their faults Scott & Joyce at least nailed that part of the role.

 

[hilly]

If this club lets him walk in any way shape or form we've just cooked our rebuild in a big way. He's a crown jewel in the forward line.

Agree but we can't force him to sign anything.

On SM-S901E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[hilly]

FFS. Rate him through the roof.

We don't just need a coach, we need a friggin football manager and list manager who know how to retain talent.

For all their faults Scott & Joyce at least nailed that part of the role.

3 years for all!

On SM-S901E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[footy2016]

If he leaves, it is a disaster. It is the first domino to fall and creates a massive fear of an exodus with LDU, McKay, JHF all out of contract end of 2023.

 

[Harris 10]

70% gone according to Mark Stevens

How was it reported?

 

[The acurate one]

70% gone according to Mark Stevens

What about the other 30%? A strange comment from Stevens. Any idea where to?

 

[scottywiper]

My mail, albeit a while ago, was he was simply pushing for more coin.
Not ideal having so many best 22 players OOC this late in season IMO

 

[The acurate one]

My mail, albeit a while ago, was he was simply pushing for more coin.
Not ideal having so many best 22 players OOC this late in season IMO

Well luckily we've signed all our shitmen. That's a relief.