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Cam Blakemore was one of Subiaco’s favourite sons, both on and off the field. To tell his story is to reminisce about a man who was not only a gifted footballer but also a talented academic  taken from us far too early.

Cameron Howard Blakemore was one of the most complete centremen to have graced the football stage in Western Australia. He was blessed with all the skills, his attitude and approach to the game were a lesson for youngsters to follow, and he played with the ball his only object and his team the one priority.  Who can forget the lace up delivery that Subiaco’s champion full forward Austin Robertson received throughout their partnership at the Maroons, and  Robertson has often publicly stated his appreciation of the role Blakemore played in his success as a full forward.

There wouldn’t have been anyone more qualified to talk with about Cam Blakemore the footballer than Austin Robertson, who was a friend and admirer of the man since early childhood.  

“Cam Blakemore was a player who had a touch of genius about him,” Robertson said. “He was instrumental in changing my game in my early days, and had no small part in the success I enjoyed. Cam was one of the most compatible and congenial people I have met, either on or off the football field, and it was obvious he was a man of high intelligence. Ironically, he only lived fourteen houses from me as we grew up in  Newry Street, Floreat Park. I knew him from an early age.”

“It was Cam, along with Reg Hampson and George Young(half forward flankers) ,Peter Metropolis, and Haydn Bunton, who were most influential in my career.” Robertson continued.    

Cam Blakemore began his football with Floreat Park under sixteens, before being recruited by Subiaco. He progressed from colts to reserves before his league debut in 1963 at the age of nineteen, making an immediate impact. Winning a best WANFL first year player trophy in that season , Blakemore soon became one of the top centremen in the league, playing 175 times for Subiaco, kicking 87 goals.  He collected three fairest and best awards(1967, 69, and 70) and represented Western Australia in 1970 and 71.   

Most supporters would not have known that after  the season of 1971, a year in which he was in some of the best form of his career, Cam Blakemore was diagnosed with cancer. He had an operation, which enabled him to keep playing, but  retired from league football in 1972.  In 1973, playing with Kalamunda, he won the Sunday Football League’s Bowden Medal, awarded to the League’s fairest and best, suggesting that he may have called it quits too soon, an opinion shared by Robertson.      

The  cancer, which had been in remission since 1972, flared again a few years after his retirement, and he lost his battle in February, 1977, at only 33 years of age. Subiaco Football Club started a testimonial trust fund for the education of his two young children, and a benefit game on March 19, 1977, between Subiaco and South Fremantle realized $4600.

“ Cam, his wife Helen, and their two children were a great family, and it was a tragedy,” Robertson said.

Cam Blakemore was also a very gifted academic, winning a scholarship to Perth Modern School, passing his junior with eight subjects and his leaving with seven subjects and three distinctions.  He had B.Sc and B.Ed qualifications, and  was Senior Master in Mathematics at Perth Modern for some years.   

He was named at centre in Subiaco’s “Greatest Team 1946-76”, an indication of the esteem in which the centreman was held. That has not diminished over the years, and Cameron Blakemore is still remembered with reverence at the Subiaco Football club.  

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