The Brisbane Lions are saddened to hear of the passing of former Fitzroy player, senior coach, and Club Life Member, Graham Campbell, aged 85.
A product of Fitzroy’s U19 premiership side which was led by Team of the Century Coach Len Smith, Campbell graduated to Fitzroy’s senior team in 1956 and went on to play 151 senior VFL games across nine seasons with the Club from 1956-64, claiming the Best and Fairest award in 1957.
Regarded as a rover/half-forward with a keen goal sense, Campbell kicked 154 career goals at an average of over one per game. His best return in a single game was a haul of five goals against Geelong in Round 7 of 1957.
He played a large role in Fitzroy’s resurgence as a genuine force on the field in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Campbell was part of Fitzroy’s 1959 Night Premiership side, and the side that came within one kick of qualifying for the 1960 VFL Grand Final.
Campbell later had two separate stints as Senior Coach at Fitzroy – firstly as caretaker coach in 1974, and again in 1978.
After being part of Fitzroy’s Night Premiership side as a player in 1959, Campbell steered the Club to another Night Premiership in 1978.
He also claimed a WAFL Premiership as senior coach of West Perth in 1975 and spent two seasons at the helm of Glenelg in the SANFL from 1983-84.
To read more about Campbell's famous 1978 VFL Grand Final win, head HERE.
