Speedster Matthew Campbell ready to step up for the Roosters

IN 2007, Matthew Campbell was sitting in the grandstand watching the SANFL grand final wishing he was out there. Now he gets his chance.

MATTHEW Campbell was sitting in the AAMI Stadium grandstand watching the 2007 SANFL grand final wishing he was out there.

The previous year he played in the preliminary final with North Adelaide before being drafted to North Melbourne and moving to Victoria.

"I came back as an AFL player to watch the grand final and I was a bit disappointed that we couldn't do it when I was there," Campbell, 26, said.

MORE: SEE THE GRAND FINAL TEAMS HERE

That day was as close as the Roosters would get to ending their premiership drought which goes back to 1991 as they became yet another victim of the Central District juggernaut.

But now they've got their big chance again and Campbell is front and centre.

After 82 AFL games in six seasons with the Kangaroos, the lightning-fast midfielder/forward finds himself back at North Adelaide and AAMI Stadium on grand final day, but this time as a player instead of spectator.

"We got to the first final and thought 'all we've got to do is win three games and we'll get there'," he said.

"It sounds easy but we had to play Central District who belted us in those five weeks (five straight losses to finish the season) and the Eagles who had beaten us twice.

"But with finals you get yourselves up for the opportunity and it's amazing for our playing group to see we're still in there and definitely good enough to beat any of them on the day."

MORE: JAY SHANNON WINNING THE RACE TO BE FIT

He said North's topsy turvy form could have been a good thing for the group to experience.

"Because we know what happens when we don't do the things that make us a good team," he said.

Campbell was delisted by North Melbourne last year and held some hope of a second chance in the pre-season draft, but when it never arrived he, his partner and their two dogs went to Darwin where he played footy with the Buffaloes until Christmas.

He arrived at Prospect in January for pre-season and instantly felt back at home.

"It felt like full circle, I'd gone from the SANFL to the AFL and back to the SANFL again," he said.

"The club was really good and supporters remember you and it was just good to be in the rooms and running up those stairs and onto the ground again."

Although all his focus is on helping the Roosters topple red-hot favourites Norwood on Sunday, Campbell is still hopeful an AFL club might come calling for next season.

"I think anyone under 27 is realistically a chance of getting picked up, especially with clubs that are in the premiership window and are doing specific recruiting."

###