Welcome Tom.

A backup ruck with experience that will cost us next to nothing. Think it's a smart move.

Welcome Tom.

Basically admitting that we stuffed up last year, but now have a 2nd ruck who would be able to fill in if needed and gives another year to assess Verrall.

I hope that he insists in his contract that he is guaranteed at least several games next season. The fate of most of our recent ones has been to fester away in Casey purgatory. I wouldn’t mind seeing a genuine dual ruck combination playing for a change and leave JVR to play in his rightful position. 

Edited October 4, 2024Oct 4 by John Crow Batty

On 01/10/2024 at 12:42, Bring-Back-Powell said:

 

Per Cal Twomey on Trade radio.

Welcome to the "4 club" Club Tom.

About as good as Fullarton! Another maestro move by our recruiting team!

This bloke looks like he's been through the wars. Specifically Iraq and Afghanistan 

Another strange move by the Dees, what position does and Verrall and Fullerton play?  I would pick up a tall delisted mid from another club.

10 hours ago, Demon Jack said:

Nothing against this. With Fullerton and Verrell still seemingly miles off selection (we choose to play Petty as a key ruck before them for goodness sake), Campbell seems a low risk high reward recruit.

Welcome TC.

Got it correctly, a low risk high reward recruit whom will excel given this opportunity . 

Well he definitely looks experienced, hope he can give us that ruck relief for Max when needed.  Keep thinking he is an awesome bloke and just great for club land, that can't be bad can it.

Edited October 4, 2024Oct 4 by Young Angus

Have we been rubbished in the media for this yet?

35 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Have we been rubbished in the media for this yet?

Nar but WAAAIT!

5 hours ago, John Crow Batty said:

I hope that he insists in his contract that he is guaranteed at least several games next season. The fate of most of our recent ones has been to fester away in Casey purgatory. I wouldn’t mind seeing a genuine dual ruck combination playing for a change and leave JVR to play in his rightful position. 

He is insurance in case Gawn is injured. He won't play seniors unless that happens.

1 hour ago, John Demonic said:

This bloke looks like he's been through the wars. Specifically Iraq and Afghanistan 

He will need to tap into such resilience if he’s to succeed at MFC.

14 hours ago, COOLX said:

Another strange move by the Dees, what position does and Verrall and Fullerton play?  I would pick up a tall delisted mid from another club.

Fullarton isn’t good enough to play ruck. We know that from this year. 

Verrall’s too young/thin/inexperienced/incapable to play first ruck in 2025.

There’s nothing strange or questionable about us taking an experienced ruckman to play in Gawn’s spot if required. The only question is whether Campbell is the best option for us. 

From Code Sports …

Tom Campbell is the AFL’s great survivor. The journeyman ruckman – who has never played more than nine games in an AFL season – officially joined his fourth AFL club on Friday when he was unveiled as a delisted free agency signing for Melbourne.

The 32-year-old, who was first selected by Western Bulldogs in the 2011 rookie draft, has spent the past 13 years on AFL lists for a total of 58 matches.

In that time he has turned out in 11 out the 13 years he has been listed at AFL level, including four matches for St Kilda in the past three years as Rowan Marshall’s understudy.

He also played 42 games in seven years as a Bulldog and 12 in three seasons at North Melbourne.

“Tom is an experienced, competitive ruck, who we are excited to welcome to the club,” Melbourne’s list manager Tim Lamb said. 

He is an outstanding character, and will provide depth and maturity in our ruck stocks, which has been a focus for us this off season. 

“We look forward to having Tom and his family as part of the red and blue.”

After his delisting in August, St Kilda’s David Misson said of Campbell: “Tom has been an incredible member of our playing group during his time here, having an invaluable impact on our emerging talent and ruck stocks.

“His generosity and kindness have made an indelible mark on those around him, and we know will stand him in great stead for this next stage with his young family.”

Campbell has the lowest average games played per season (4.46) of any player who will be listed for the 2025 season that has lasted in the AFL for a decade or more.

His tally of 58 games is equal to Collingwood defender Billy Frampton, who has been in the AFL system for 10 years.

Recently delisted Giant Braydon Preuss (28 games in 10 seasons), retired Richmond ruckman Sam Naismith (33 games, 11 years) and ex-Carlton defender Caleb Marchbank (63, 10 seasons) were the other players in the top five of the AFL’s game of survivor this year.

Next year, Ivan Soldo (65 games, 10 years), Marc Pittonet (73 games, 10 years) and Lewis Melican (84 games, 10 years) will join those ranks.

But Campbell will become the ultimate survivor after signing for Melbourne as Max Gawn’s understudy.

He has been one of the VFL’s dominant big men in recent years and averaged 18.8 disposals, 4.7 marks and 3.9 tackles a game for St Kilda’s affiliate Sandringham this year.

Campbell’s longevity does not come close to former Sydney, Gold Coast and North Melbourne ruckman Daniel Currie though. 

Currie played 10 AFL games in 10 seasons from 2007-2017 and once described himself as someone who had “given the term list clogger new meaning”.

Edited October 5, 2024Oct 5 by spirit of norm smith
Xxx

 

On 04/10/2024 at 13:38, greenwaves said:

"Tom is an experienced, competitive ruck, who we are excited to welcome to the club," Melbourne list boss Tim Lamb said.

"He is an outstanding character, and will provide depth and maturity in our ruck stocks, Tim Lamb.

Reminds me of when they reckoned Tomlinson would solve our wing issues. Or Grundy could rotate fwd.

On 04/10/2024 at 20:48, Dr. Gonzo said:

He is insurance in case Gawn is injured. He won't play seniors unless that happens.

We don’t want to see Gawn run into the ground before the insurance claim is activated. I don’t want to see our most viable big forward prospect wasting time chopping out for Max in every game. JVR has had little positive effect in the ruck and his development as a key forward has been compromised. Goodwin got lucky with the “unicorn” Jackson/Gawn combination and is trying to repeat history but failed to repeat it with Grundy and JVR.

53 minutes ago, gs77 said:

Reminds me of when they reckoned Tomlinson would solve our wing issues. Or Grundy could rotate fwd.

Silly comparison. 

Campbell’s been playing one position - ruck - for 12 years. 

Tomlinson came to us as a jack of all trades and if he had form on a wing it was fleeting. Grundy we all know wasn’t a forward. 

Once again, the question on Campbell isn’t whether he’s the right type of player to add to our list. He’s precisely what we’re after, a ruckman who can be the number one ruck if required. The only question is whether he’s the best option for that role. His VFL form this year suggests he’s at least in the conversation. 

On 23/09/2024 at 12:04, DeeSpencer said:

Would join Robbie Campbell as inspiring ruck recruits.

The only ways this makes sense is if they believe Verrall will be ready in 2026, they have a better target in 2026 or there’s just no one in the state leagues of any quality.

Either way, I’d again ask what the rush is if no one else wants him. Get the biggest and best 25 year old down for preseason training and if they aren’t up for it then sign Campbell. 

IMO Verrall will never be ready. I have yet to see a more than average game from him. 

1 hour ago, John Crow Batty said:

We don’t want to see Gawn run into the ground before the insurance claim is activated. I don’t want to see our most viable big forward prospect wasting time chopping out for Max in every game. JVR has had little positive effect in the ruck and his development as a key forward has been compromised. Goodwin got lucky with the “unicorn” Jackson/Gawn combination and is trying to repeat history but failed to repeat it with Grundy and JVR.

He won't be playing seniors if Gawn is playing. We aren't gonna waste a spot on someone who can pinch hit for 5 minutes a quarter and do nothing else. JVR has been fine when he's gone into the ruck, it's not ideal but unless we get someone in who can actually contribute as a forward and then pinch hit in the ruck (such as Peter Wright) we aren't playing two rucks.

On 04/10/2024 at 22:48, Dr. Gonzo said:

He is insurance in case Gawn is injured. He won't play seniors unless that happens.

Oh I see like Fullarton!! BRILLIANT STRATEGY as always MFC!

31 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Oh I see like Fullarton!! BRILLIANT STRATEGY as always MFC!

Nah more like Darcy Forte actually. Campbell can actually ruck unlike Fullarton.

Brisbane just won a GF because in a break glass situation where their no.1 ruck went down, they had an back up ruck (31) who was adequate, experienced and was able to compete with Grundy and help his midfield.

If Campbell was playing for MFC this year he would have come straight in with how consistently he performed at VFL level. 

Edited October 6, 2024Oct 6 by Young Blood

On 06/10/2024 at 15:16, picket fence said:

Oh I see like Fullarton!! BRILLIANT STRATEGY as always MFC!

Where can  we get the club to mail you an application form for list manager, game day coach and chairman of selectors, fence?

(PS  I agree 100% that Fullarton seems to have been a terrible pick up)

Edited October 7, 2024Oct 7 by monoccular

Should have gone for the Admiral from Get Smart.