Fred Campbell (Australian footballer) facts for kids

Fred Campbell was born on 14 December 1979. He is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the top-level AFL. He played for two different clubs, Sydney and St Kilda, during the years 1999 and 2000.

Fred Campbell's Football Journey

Fred Campbell started his football journey playing for the Pioneer Football Club in the Central Australian Football League (CAFL). This team is based in Alice Springs, a town in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Starting His AFL Career

In 1997, Fred Campbell was chosen by the Sydney Swans in the 1997 AFL draft. The draft is a special event where AFL clubs pick talented young players to join their teams. Fred was the 40th player picked that year. Interestingly, the Swans also picked Adam Goodes just three picks later. Adam Goodes went on to become a very famous player, winning many awards like the Brownlow Medal twice and playing over 350 games.

Fred played five games for the Sydney Swans during the 1999 AFL season. After this season, he decided to leave the club and return to his hometown of Alice Springs.

Playing for St Kilda

Even though he went home, Fred Campbell was still a talented player. In the 2000 Pre-season draft, another AFL club, the St Kilda Football Club, chose him. This gave him another chance to play in the AFL.

Fred played seven more games for St Kilda in the 2000 AFL season. After this season, he once again decided to return to Alice Springs. Sometimes, players might choose to go back home for personal reasons, like being closer to family or feeling more comfortable in their hometown. In total, Fred Campbell played 12 games in the AFL across his time with both Sydney and St Kilda.