Campbell Combe replicates grandfather’s football feat 59 years on
CRYSTAL Brook’s Campbell Combe has replicated the feat of his maternal grandfather, Mid-North great Peter Heinjus, in a rare South Australian country football achievement as he prepares to lace up for this weekend’s Northern Areas grand final.
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TWO generations apart, Campbell Combe has emulated the rare football feat of his grandfather, Peter Heinjus.
The Crystal Brook player has strengthened his reputation as one of the state’s finest country footballers by winning his third consecutive Northern Areas Football Association Mail Medal as the competition’s best and fairest player.
Last week’s win has brought back memories for both Campbell, 22, and his grandmother, Heinjus’ widow, Jenni, as they contemplated the effort ahead of Crystal Brook’s shot at back-to-back NAFA premierships against Orroroo this weekend.
Heinjus, who played for Brinkworth in the Broughton league, was also one of the region’s finest footballers and collected three Mail Medals from 1957-1959.
Campbell recalled: “He was terrific to us, growing up, and I still have memories of running around on the farm with him. Now that I look back at it I appreciate it.
“I’ve heard some pretty good stories about him. “Every now and again when you see some family or people from Brinkworth they bring it up (Heinjus’ football career).”
Mrs Heinjus watches Campbell play most weeks and could not be more proud of her grandson.
“I’ve followed him all of his life, him and his brother, who is a couple years younger and came third in the Mail Medal,” Mrs Heinjus said.
“Peter only saw him as a junior but when we moved off the farm at Brinkworth into units up here (at Crystal Brook) the boys used to come after school.
“Peter used to get them kicking the football left foot, right foot and handball left hand, right hand.”
Both Campbell and his grandfather have been sought by Adelaide clubs: Campbell has played senior football for North Adelaide while Heinjus had an approach from South Adelaide.
“Because he was a farmer they weren’t interested because they didn’t have any work for him in the city,” Mrs Heinjus said.
