lmfao, good bump MT.
It's very hard to get any truth regarding a player's ranking in their own era let alone all-time, but it's something we can't help ourselves in doing. We need to settle the hierarchy of greats!
I'm not sure if there really is any truth in the matter, a lot depends on one's values and what characteristics one cherishes over others.
For some, characteristics like leadership, courage, bravery, self-sacrifice, stand out above all others. For others, skill, poise, grace and footy smarts stand out. Others still place a premium on the spectacular, the extraordinary and what takes one's breath away. There are also those who place the highest value on consistency, durability, longevity.
In a way, if there is any truth to the matter, you really have to consider everything. But really, I'm not sure what should really take precedence in your value system.
This isn't exactly mathematics and it is open to interpretation to a fair degree.
Not having seen much footy before the late 80's, I really don't have much of an idea about where to rank Cambo all time. In the last 15 years though it is somewhat easier. For me he has been the best.
He definitely wasn't the most spectacular and didn't do much that was extraordinary that would get you out of your seat and scream like a madman. In that respect, there have been many that have been better than him. Nor was he the bravest or the most self-sacrificial player.
But in other respects, he was the man.
Great kicking skills on both sides of the body. Many criticise him for kicking floaters or toe pokes that go nowhere, but I think this is an unfair criticism, not taking into account that a lot of Cambo's possessions were earnt in the clinches where moving the ball forward by any means necessary was the name of the game. When he had time to size up his options he was a very accurate kick. His goal kicking from set shots was superb and as Nathan Brown has said, if he was leading for the mark and the ball could be in any player's hands in the team he would want it to be Campbell, becuase he is a great kick and makes the right decisions. The only legitimate criticism of his kicking was that he couldn't really get more than 50 metres in his prime, which would allow him to kick more goals than he did from outside 50. But within 40 metres he was very pin-point.
His handballing was always good and he had very clean hands. In this facet though, i would say Knights, Broderick and Lambert were all slightly better. He would be fourth in line.
His marking was also very good for his size. He rarely lost to players his size in one on one contests, especially other midfielders.
Without doubt he was the most footy smart Tiger player of his time. His main asset was his uncanny ability to find the footy. Even as a hack coming off the bench he can still gather 17 or 18 touches a game playing little more than half of it. He just knows where to position himself to find the Sherrin. He jsut thinks one step ahead of most players and is tremendously alert.
His decision making and poise with the footy are also unquestioned. In terms of poise and decision making I'd say maybe Knights was slightly better in his prime. Knights was rediculously well poised and our most graceful player and his decision making especially by hand was great. Campbell wasn't that far behind though. Though nowhere near as graceful he was very quick minded and clear in his decision making. Rarely did he choose wrong options.
In terms of longevity, consistency and durability he has clearly been the best. He has played the most games, been the most consistent as his trophy cabinet attests to with his outstanding B&F results, and before injuries caught up with him near the end, he was extremely durable. He was an endurance freak and would run his guts out from the start to the finish of games and would never stop trying win lose or draw. No one would come close to covering the territory he has in matches over the last 15 years I'd say.
He also had good leadership qualities. I'd say only Tony Free was as good a captain as him. Campbell was a smarter and more tactically aware player, but Free had courage and grit, and inspired his team mates more than what Campbell could. Before his calf and Achilles injuries Campbell was making a very good fist of it as captain though. He had increased his toughness and was one of the leading pack clearance players in the competition. He had earnt the respect of players and most fickle supporters alike. He was setting a good example with his discipline, dedication and professionalism.
All time ranking? Like I said, I haven't seen enough before the late 80s to make any real assessment, but I admit it does make it seem weird to be in the company of legends like Bartlett, Dyer, Bourke, Titus. I can't convince myself that he belongs in their stratosphere.
But to me at least, if they were putting Knights and Richo in the Tigers team of the Century, then Campbell definitely ranks in the top 20 tigers, becuase IMO, Campbell was better than both.
