Anyone who has met Shannon Campbell would be shocked to discover that she has just celebrated her 23^rd birthday in September this year. With life experience well beyond her years, Campbell’s story is one of continual personal growth and success in the face of life changing adversity.

Born and bred on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Campbell is a salt-of-the-earth human. Honest, hardworking, and will do anything for anyone. Traits learnt and developed at a very young age and deeply instilled by her father, Keith and late mother, Kerry.

“I’m very much a go with the flow type person - nothing really gets under my skin too much,” she said.

“Growing up on the Sunny Coast and on the beach – everything is just relaxed.”

Leading into AFLW season three, the whole Lions team were treated to a Maroochydore pre-season training session and got the best possible insight into the Campbell family. Keith greeted all players warmly after the session, and passionately spoke about six generations of sugar cane farming and family history in the area.

“Grandpa owned and worked on the property where Maroochydore (QAFLW) playing fields are now, so playing there and having my photo up on the wall... it’s even more special because that footy field is like my home away from home,” Campbell said.

She speaks with the same pride and love when reflecting on the devastating loss of her mother. Campbell treasures the moments and values they were able to share.

“I was 12, going into my first year of high school,” she said.

“Basically halfway through Grade Eight is when it happened.

“She battled through cancer basically since I was born so it was just in and out of hospitals pretty much all the time.”

While emotional and raw, Shannon insists on finding the positives and speaks sincerely about the lessons learned from her Mum.

 “She would come to our graduations and was always there no matter what,” Campbell said.

“She could be the sickest person ever and she would always make time for everyone else.

“I think that’s where I got a little bit of my demeanour from where I like to put others before myself.”

 Shannon and Keith, with Shannon’s older brothers, Nathan and Aaron are now closer than ever.

 “We all dealt with things differently,” Campbell explains.

“As we’ve gotten a little older we’ve obviously realised that we are stronger together.

“It was hard but we all, as you do, band together and get through it all together.”

At 18 years old, upon completing high school, a big decision was looming for Campbell. She was offered a scholarship to play soccer and attend Lower Columbia College (LCC), an hour outside of Portland in Pacific Northwest USA. Initially declining the offer so that she could begin an AFL traineeship, the second offer twelve months later was too good to refuse.

 With never ending support from Keith, they boarded the plane to Portland together.

 “Dad being Dad didn’t want me going by myself so he came over on that first flight as well,” Campbell said.

“He spent about two weeks with me to make sure I was settled, the people were okay, the school was alright and he got to know everyone before he went home again.”

Campbell ended up staying at LCC twelve months longer than originally planned. She stayed until receiving a life changing phone call from Lions AFLW coach, Craig Starcevich.

 “I was in the States when I found out,” she said.

“Starce called me at about 11:30pm... I wasn’t even a draft pick – I was the very last player on the Lions list.

“We had to come up with an agreement to when I would come home [and join the group].

“I was told early November close to when preseason starts and I didn’t come home until 3^rd January so I missed a lot.” 

A dour defender with elite kicking and decision-making skills, she is now a valued member of the Foundation Eight and has played 21 out of a possible 23 AFLW games.

Shannon’s story is a story any athlete would do well to remember. It doesn’t matter what number you are picked or what has happened before this moment right now. What matters is your attitude and your approach to each and every opportunity that comes your way and she is most excited about what is ahead for this Lions group.

Leading into 2020, Campbell is most thrilled about playing alongside fellow Sunshine Coast locals and fresh draftees, Belle Dawes and Lily Postlethwaite.

“I am really excited to see what level they can get to this year and in the future,” she said.