Footy’s great survivors: Tom Campbell joins fourth club

Tom Campbell joined his fourth AFL club this week. TIM MICHELL looks at the AFL’s journeymen that have survived longer than a decade despite struggling to get first-team minutes.

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.

Tom Campbell is now at the Demons. Picture: Michael Klein

“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.

Ivan Soldo could join a third club next year. Picture: Getty Images

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”.