Tony Campbell (Australian rules football)
Encyclopedia
Anthony 'Tony' Campbell is a former professional Australian rules footballer and businessman.
from Camberwell Grammar School
. Early in his career, the solidly built player was tried on the full-forward line wearing the number 40 and later 4 guernseys for Melbourne. Despite kicking some long goals, his questionable accuracy led to him being used instead at fullback
where he settled in his career, becoming an uncompromising long and direct kicking defender.
During a time of little success he requested a pre-draft trade at the end of 1991 that would find him at Footscray.
Campbell became a cult hero for many Bulldogs fans, known for wearing a long sleeved jumper and gloves. He created some controversy when he created a business selling sporting gloves and tried to promote them as a fashion in the AFL.
Campbell was one of the few players of his era (along with Alastair Lynch
) who matched up well with Tony Lockett
. Lockett would rarely beat Campbell in a man on man contest to the death.
punter. However after trialling for a season he was not offered a contract.
to get pick #54 in the 1995 AFL Draft
which they used to re-draft Campbell. He played one final season in the league before retiring at the end of 1996.
AFL career
Campbell was recruited to the Melbourne Football ClubMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
from Camberwell Grammar School
Camberwell Grammar School
Camberwell Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day school for boys, located in Canterbury, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
. Early in his career, the solidly built player was tried on the full-forward line wearing the number 40 and later 4 guernseys for Melbourne. Despite kicking some long goals, his questionable accuracy led to him being used instead at fullback
Fullback (Australian rules football)
In Australian rules football, the fullback position has traditionally been a purely defensive role, with the aim of preventing the full-forward from marking the ball and scoring. However, in recent times, where the ability to move the ball out of defence and down the field quickly has become a more...
where he settled in his career, becoming an uncompromising long and direct kicking defender.
During a time of little success he requested a pre-draft trade at the end of 1991 that would find him at Footscray.
Campbell became a cult hero for many Bulldogs fans, known for wearing a long sleeved jumper and gloves. He created some controversy when he created a business selling sporting gloves and tried to promote them as a fashion in the AFL.
Campbell was one of the few players of his era (along with Alastair Lynch
Alastair Lynch
Alastair Graeme Lynch is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League . He is best known as a three time premiership full-forward for the Brisbane Lions....
) who matched up well with Tony Lockett
Tony Lockett
Anthony Howard "Tony" Lockett is a former Australian rules football player. Lockett is the highest goal scorer in the history of the VFL/AFL with 1,360 goals in a career of 281 games, that commenced in 1983 with the St Kilda Football Club, and finished in 2002 with the Sydney Swans...
. Lockett would rarely beat Campbell in a man on man contest to the death.
American Football
Campbell surprised many when he quit at Footscray to move to the United States and follow Darren Bennett in the pursuit of big money as an American FootballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
punter. However after trialling for a season he was not offered a contract.
Return to the AFL
Having gone missing for two seasons he eventually returned to Australia and announced his intention to once again play Australian rules football. The Bulldogs traded Luke BeveridgeLuke Beveridge
Luke Beveridge is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne, Footscray and St Kilda in the Australian Football League during the 1990s...
to get pick #54 in the 1995 AFL Draft
1995 AFL Draft
The 1995 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1995 Australian Football League season.The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football clubs that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.Clubs receive picks based...
which they used to re-draft Campbell. He played one final season in the league before retiring at the end of 1996.