Former AFL player Matt Campbell named the new AFLNT Central Australia development coach

Former AFL player says league must do more as he takes on youth development role in the troubled region.

A former AFL footballer whose roots are in Central Australia is determined to develop footy after claiming “the AFL had dropped the ball” in the region.

Former North Melbourne forward Matt Campbell has taken on the role of Central Australia development coach with the goal of growing the game in the Red Centre and identifying talent from across the region.

Campbell played at the highest level from 2006 to 2012 and was best on ground in the 2009 Indigenous All Stars match against the Adelaide Crows.

And since leaving the big league, he has played and coached for the Darwin Buffaloes in the NTFL and Pioneer in the CAFL.

But now he’s keen to provide a positive pathway in the region, believing the “AFL could do more” in its support of the Territory.

It was one of the many reasons the Central Australian took up the opportunity to get involved in player development.

“I think the AFL has dropped the ball in general in terms of the Territory,” Campbell said.

“The kids here walk around with the shirts of Eddie Betts and Buddy Franklin and still aspire to be AFL players off one chance a year to see the game live.

“There’s been plenty of talent developing over the past 10 years I’ve been away, and there’s plenty of kids who haven’t had the opportunities they probably could have had.

Former Darwin Buffaloes coach Matt Campbell has been named the Central Australia development coach.

“And I’ve also heard first hand the talent pathways haven’t really had much engagement in the area recently.

“The AFLNT realised that and are doing a great job trying to get it off the ground, and for me I was moving back home so getting involved was sort of right place and right time.”

It comes after calls from Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson for the AFL to target the region more to give kids direction in light of the recent crime crisis.

“The biggest sport in Alice Springs is AFL, and that’s got a role to play and I call on the AFL organisation to start investing in remote communities,” Paterson said.

It was a call echoed by Campbell who stated he was “baffled” by everything going on in the town he had long called home.

But he saw his new role, which would also service Tennant Creek, the Barkly and surrounding remote communities, as a key starting point to getting kids engaged in something positive all year round.

“It just baffles me all this stuff going on at the moment, Alice Springs is the most beautiful place I’ve ever lived, I grew up here,” Campbell said.

“And to see what we’re going through and to hear all the negative stuff, it baffles me.

“People still don’t realise the number one tool is the AFL, it’s the big drawcard and the most talked about sport in the region.

“I still believe if you put a good amount of footy on and you allow opportunities for kids to get involved and start learning through positive role models.

Darwin Buffaloes' Matt Campbell celebrating a goal against St Mary's in the 2022-23 NTFL season. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

“The more footy you play, the more kids you engage and the more kids you engage in something positive the less negative they’re going to get up to.

“That’s how you change kids’ mindsets and start getting them engaged in school, engaged in teamwork and engaged in commitment.”

And while the development program is looking to help get some kids playing a higher level of footy - whether that’s in the AFL or state leagues - that wasn’t the sole aim for Campbell.

He wants to get local kids engaged in footy more often and provide more opportunities to play the sport year round, rather than just develop the best players.

He will work alongside talent lead Dan Gretgrix and AFLNT Academy head coach Brent Renouf with the aim of being a positive role model for Central Australian youth.

“Growing up myself we had positive role models in our local clubs and around us,” Campbell said.

“And I think that’s sort of dropping away in the generation I’m in, so kids don’t have that as much, and when older kids are doing the wrong thing it causes the younger kids to follow.

“If you can get those older kids into playing sport and keep them engaged 12 months a year, we can enhance the footy quantity in Alice Springs, with the youngsters following on.

“It’s not so much about the quality of it, it’s about the quantity, getting these kids playing as much as we can.”

Originally published as Former AFL player Matt Campbell named the new AFLNT Central Australia development coach