Welcome to Demonland ... ROBERT CAMPBELL

[rpfc 28,913]

That's assuming he gets the free upgraded rookie spot at the start of the season. The order at the moment is Jamar, Spencer, (upgrade Campbell if both are injured), then... Gawn, Fitz.

I don't understand this post.

One vet means a rookie can play from Rd 1.

And why do both Jamar and Spencer need to be injured before Campbell can play?

[titan_uranus 25,176]

One vet means a rookie can play from Rd 1.

I think this is key.

We knew with Bruce gone that his veteran spot was going to be available for any rookie to play from Round 1. But since most rookies aren't ready for Round 1 of their first year, it opened the door for us to break with our youth driven recruitment policy and look to a mature-aged player who might be able to play straight away.

Robert Campbell, at full fitness, is the second best ruckman on our list.

[DemonoidNumber9 7]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/106016/default.aspx

another glowing report on how fit this guy is.

my fingers are crossed!

i just hope he wears the long-stops during this ridiculously wet pre season!

[don cordner 204]

in his interview he looks alot different. looking good. last time i remember seeing him he looked chubby in the face. So well done to Robert for getting himself in great shape. Hope he stays injury free. He is a real competetor

[GOLF 13]

Robbie Campbel is insurance in case Jamar goes down with injury. Full stop.

He will not be playing afl next year if Jamar plays 22 games, and that would be ideale.

If Jamar goes down, and we are forced to play Stefan Martin or Dunn in the ruck, who'd get killed, we'd lose matches bc of it, and it would stuff up how our midfield operates. That's why a competant mature age ruckman is an important back up.

To me it was very obvious we were going to take a mature age ruckman, and I have no problem with taking Robbie Campbell.

The fact he's a quality person with leadership skills is obviously an extra bonus. In fact I noticed Prendergast consistently emphasise outstanding character traits with regard to many of our draftees, it is clearly an important aspect of drafting

Sylvinator has got it right.

If Jamar stays fit, we won't see Campbell playing Seniors next year. We need to get game time into Spencer, Gawn and Fitzpatrick. We will see one of those sharing ruck and forward time with Jamar each game. Might even give Martin a run if he recaptures fitness and form. But I want to see 10 games at least for Spencer, and 3-6 each for the others.

Campbell will play at Casey and prove/improve his fitness unless Jamar is injured. Then Campbell will step up to first ruck, and we will continue to play one of Spencer, Gawn, Fitzpatrick or Martin as second ruck, because none of them is yet capable of filling the first ruck role.

Campbell will continue in this role through 2011. Unless one of our young ruck prospects comes good by the end of 2011 (would most likely be Spencer if it happens, but it probably won't happen) and could take on first ruck duties if Jamar got injured, Campbell will continue as a rookie as insurance for Jamar through 2012. During those two years he can hopefully be of use as a ruck coach/mentor for the young. The beauty of having him on the rookie list is that it is a one-year-at-a-time situation.

That is what we got him on to the rookie list to do. I hope his fitness allows him to fill the role.

There is one alternative scenario. If he proves to be fully fit and still has the peak form he showed at Hawthorn, then it would be possible to select either him or Jamar as first ruck, but to continue to use Sepencer/Gawn/Fitzpatrick/Martin as second. That way the young still get their development and Jamar gets enough rest to see him through the next year or two relatively unscathed. Maybe play Campbell instead of Jamar in the week before and the week after each of our byes to give Jamar long breaks.

But overall. Campbell is there for insurance, and looks like a good pick for it.

[Deetective Sgt. Taggert 389]

If nothing else he'll keep Jamar honest at training being a more worthy adversary than any current or previous player

[Adzman 2,154]

Was blown off my chair by this pick. To say it took me by surprise was an understatement. the last I heard heard on Robbie Campbell was that he was thinking of a comeback- that was it. All of a sudden the dees use a Smokey pick and draft him on the rookie list.

I think this says more about the dees plans for 2011 than Robbie Campbell's ability. What the dees are saying is "yeah, we are ready for finals footy, and if something happens to Jamar we now have insurance- Robbie Campbell"

I think the club is ready to contest, and if the kids are not ready to step into a ruck role, Campbell will be used in finals footy should we need him to rest/replace the Russian should anything go wrong.

It also gives us a ruck duo NOW instead of in 3 years time. We are ready to make a push!

[Fat Tony 5,306]

I quite like the selection of Campbell as insurance, but I think we should play Dunn as our second ruckman. Barring injury the second ruckman only needs to be in the ruck role for around minutes per game. All the alternatives do not give enough during the rest of the game for mine.

[Grandson of a gun 276]

I quite like the selection of Campbell as insurance, but I think we should play Dunn as our second ruckman. Barring injury the second ruckman only needs to be in the ruck role for around minutes per game. All the alternatives do not give enough during the rest of the game for mine.

Disagree re Dunn. His value is in that defensive forward role who can also hurt on the scoreboard.

Jamar and Spencer or Gawn will be first choice simply because Campbell hasn't played AFL for over a year. He needs to get through the pre-season, get through a few really solid Casey games and then depending on the first combination it may be Jamar and Campbell after that (injury depending of course).

Back to my original point though, i still believe that of the 6 rookies, Nicholson is the one most likely to get a game first.

[Old Man Rivers 326]

But overall. Campbell is there for insurance, and looks like a good pick for it.

Disagree - If Campbell holds up during pre-season he will be playing round one.

Suggest you do some research on his career up until his injury

You don't get that sort of quality onto your list & not play them.

If all go's to plan Jamar & Campbell will both play a huge role in The Demons of 2011

Exiting Times Ahead

[Sir Why You Little 37,310]

Disagree - If Campbell holds up during pre-season he will be playing round one.

Suggest you do some research on his career up until his injury

You don't get that sort of quality onto your list & not play them.

If all go's to plan Jamar & Campbell will both play a huge role in The Demons of 2011

Exiting Times Ahead

Too Right. If Campbell is Fit & his knee is strong, he has been picked to play in the senior side.

He does have a 2008 Medallion. It's a great risk to take at Pick 75.

[deeko 952]

Too Right. If Campbell is Fit & his knee is strong, he has been picked to play in the senior side.

He does have a 2008 Medallion. It's a great risk to take at Pick 75.

Some glowing reports from wikipedia (the gospel for the lazy researchers) stating that in 2007 he was the number 1 ruckman in the league in reference to hit outs to advantage.

Ticks an important box

[e25 5]

Careful using the premiership medallion as ammo.

It didn't help Quinten Lynch or Ash Hansen and it wouldn't help Mark Blake or Brent Renouf much...

[Sir Why You Little 37,310]

Careful using the premiership medallion as ammo.

It didn't help Quinten Lynch or Ash Hansen and it wouldn't help Mark Blake or Brent Renouf much...

A Premiership Player at the club can only be positive, if Rob has the right attitude.

The West Coke Eagles spent far too much time off their chops to know what was going on!!

[MrReims 324]

Careful using the premiership medallion as ammo.

It didn't help Quinten Lynch or Ash Hansen and it wouldn't help Mark Blake or Brent Renouf much...

Ooooh, come on. Does he really deserve to be in that group? He is far from terrible....

[e25 5]

Ooooh, come on. Does he really deserve to be in that group? He is far from terrible....

Don't rate him one iota.

I'd rather have PJ.

[titan_uranus 25,176]

Don't rate him one iota.

I'd rather have PJ.

I wouldn't.

That's not to say Renouf's not crap, because he is. But I'd take any moving ruckman over PJ. Including Mark Blake.

There, I said it.

[Dee1987 277]

Cambpell will play most of the year provided his knee holds up, Jamar looked tired after rnd 15 this year so i think they will have both rotating between fwd line and ruck ( hence thats why we chased Hale for the same reason) Spencer Gawn and Fitzpatrick are a long way away. A premiership ruckman i would never say no to

[e25 5]

But I'd take any moving ruckman over PJ. Including Mark Blake.

Wow...

Actually, I have to agree.

I was exaggerating.

But I still really don't like Renouf as a ruckman.

[e25 5]

Cambpell will play most of the year provided his knee holds up, Jamar looked tired after rnd 15 this year so i think they will have both rotating between fwd line and ruck ( hence thats why we chased Hale for the same reason) Spencer Gawn and Fitzpatrick are a long way away. A premiership ruckman i would never say no to

I'm not convinced he will.

I think we will also need to carefully manage Robbie Campbell's knee issues and he will be held back.

It's interesting to hear how our players get held back in the preseason.

If you've not read the excerpts by Nick Maxwell on the HeraldSun website from the book on Collingwood's premiership winning season...

It's hard to stomach in sections, but I found it really interesting in particular the commentary on their fitness staff holding back players.

A lot of credit has been given to their methods and he even compares it with what he has heard about the Bulldogs methods.

[sylvinator 96]

People should remember that the new substitute role has undoubtably spelled the death of the second ruckman,

You can't have 2 big lumbering ruckman, when one sits a lot on the bench, leaving only 2 players to rotate. Until they get rid of the rule, it will be one genuine ruckman + one mobile tall (Leigh Brown style).

I will be shocked to see Jamar ever picked alongside Gawn, Campbell or Spenser next year.

[e25 5]

Who do you think will relieve Jamar in the ruck, in that case?

[deeko 952]

Who do you think will relieve Jamar in the ruck, in that case?

What about Ricky to come back in as the defensive forward allowing Dunnny in??

[daisycutter 29,892]

Who do you think will relieve Jamar in the ruck, in that case?

I asked sylvinator that before but got no response

[Whispering_Jack 31,144]

An interesting article from Campbell's home territory:

SALES PITCH MAKES CAMPBELL A DEMON