Given a forward role in two senior games early in his first year at North after crossing from the Bulldogs, Tom Campbell could only boot one goal and spent the rest of the year at VFL level in a ruck tandem with Tristan Xerri. He was most definitely the lead in that tandem, averaging 34 hits outs, 22 disposals and 124 fantasy points. The tricky question for fantasy coaches looking at Campbell is whether to burn a late pick on him as a handcuff for Todd Goldstein. It's not as if Goldie is showing signs of falling off a cliff in the manner of Sam Jacobs last year, but you can't argue with the fact of 31 (soon 32) being old for a ruckman. His fabulous VFL numbers might sway you into it.
Tom toms are beating
Given a forward role in two senior games early in his first year at North after crossing from the Bulldogs, Tom Campbell could only boot one goal and spent the rest of the year at VFL level in a ruck tandem with Tristan Xerri. He was most definitely the lead in that tandem, averaging 34 hits outs, 22 disposals and 124 fantasy points. The tricky question for fantasy coaches looking at Campbell is whether to burn a late pick on him as a handcuff for Todd Goldstein. It's not as if Goldie is showing signs of falling off a cliff in the manner of Sam Jacobs last year, but you can't argue with the fact of 31 (soon 32) being old for a ruckman. His fabulous VFL numbers might sway you into it.
Campbell back in the soup
Having spent much of his career as a back-up ruckman, Tom Campbell figures to perform the same role at North Melbourne. In his six games as lead ruck in 2017 Campbell managed an average fantasy score of 84, proving that when given the opportunity he is a valuable scorer. Coaches should keep an eye on Campbell and snap him up as a free agent in the event that Goldstein is injured, as his scoring is not going to warrant starting even if he is picked to start forward and support Goldie in the modern two-ruck style.
Campbell one of the clan
Brought into the seniors to ruck only when Jordan Roughead was injured or demoted, Tom Campbell dominated the ghost of Todd Goldstein and enjoyed himself against the NicNat-less Eagles for 49 and 47 taps respectively, but was otherwise unimpressive as lead ruck. He played a couple of games in a tandem, where the team went better in the ruck though he rarely threatened when playing forward. The Bullies had a dog's breakfast of a year in ruck, to be truthful, and the problem is that they can't seem to find a combination that will deliver decent returns both in the middle and up forward. The obvious long-term hope is for Tom Boyd to somehow find it within himself to fulfil his potential on a weekly basis like he did in the 2016 grand final. Until that happens, Campbell will remain on the fringes as a fantasy free agent.
