Tony Campbell (footballer)

Anthony 'Tony' Campbell (born 13 August 1967) is a former professional Australian rules footballer and businessman.

Tony Campbell
Personal information
Full name Anthony Campbell
Date of birth (1967-08-13) 13 August 1967 (age 57)
Height 189 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 93 kg (205 lb)
Position(s) Fullback
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1986–1991 Melbourne 75 (61)
1992–1993, 1996 Footscray 43 (4)
Total 118 (65)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1996.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

AFL career

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Campbell was recruited to the Melbourne Football Club 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. In 1994, with the intention of gaining membership in the Fremantle Dockers’ squad for 1995, Campbell moved to play for Perth, but played only one match before an Achilles tendon injury required season-ending surgery.[1]

American Football

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Campbell surprised many when he quit Australian football to move to the United States and follow Darren Bennett in the pursuit of big money as an American football punter. However, after trialling for a season he was not offered a contract.

Return to the AFL

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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 Beveridge 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.

References

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Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2002). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (4th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 86. ISBN 1-74095-001-1.

  1. ^ Lague, Steve; "Campbell Out for Year"; The West Australian, 9 May 1994, p. 73
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Tony Campbell's playing statistics from AFL Tables