Gray’s eye-catching Dreamtime display"He’s come in and he looks like he’s an AFL player, he’s ready to play."
By Tony Greenberg, Richmond Media
1 day ago
You wouldn’t have known it was just Campbell Gray’s second game of AFL football if you watched his performance for Richmond in the 2025 Dreamtime clash with Essendon.
Gray, who was recruited by the Tigers with their second pick (No. 16 overall) in last year’s mid-season draft from Essendon’s VFL team, shone under the MCG lights in his key defensive role, as a replacement for Noah Balta.
Showcasing elite closing speed to spoil opposition marking attempts, his own aerial and intercept ability (both in the air and at ground level), as well as cool composure, Gray was a major Yellow and Black positive on the night.
He finished the match with 11 disposals, six marks, three rebound-50s, six intercepts, a game-high 14 one-percenters and 157 metres gained.
Those 14 one-percenters were the most by a Tigers player since Tylar Young’s 15 against the Western Bulldogs in Round 4 of the 2023 season at the MCG.
Richmond coach Adem Yze acknowledged Gray’s efforts during his post-game press conference.
“Campbell Gray’s form down back today, like he did in the Melbourne game (his AFL debut in the Anzac Day Eve match), he’s come in and he looks like he’s an AFL player, he’s ready to play,” Yze said.
“We just thought that Campbell Gray’s second game of AFL footy, to put him in a role he’s played before, and that’s down back. He’s been in good form at VFL level.”
When Balta returns to the line-up, Gray has the versatility to play forward and provide a chop-out in the ruck with his impressive leap.
He was moved up forward in the last quarter of the clash with Essendon and has played there previously in the VFL.
“We just wanted to try something different with him. It might be something we need to look at when Noah is back,” Yze said.
“Right now, we feel like Campbell Gray deserves to be playing AFL footy. So, I reckon if I told him he was playing forward next week, he’ll take that.”
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1790970/grays-eye-catching-dreamtime-display
