Border Mail |
HAWTHORN premiership player Robert Campbell will play a one-off game for home club Rutherglen next week.
Campbell, who played 116 games for the Hawks and was part of their 2008 premiership-winning team, will play for the Cats in their round 8 clash with Barnawartha on June 1.
Campbell, 30, said he couldn’t wait to play for the club again.
“I’m just excited about pulling on the jumper and running around Barkly Park again,” Campbell said.
“I haven’t played there since I was about 16 or 17.
“It feels like a lifetime ago.
“I still know a lot of the guys there and a few of them were juniors at the club when I was.”
Campbell has been playing with Old Camberwell in the VAFA, however, will be cleared for next month’s clash.
Rutherglen president Greg Lumby was delighted to unveil the news.
“We’ve been working on him for a while,” Lumby said.
“Every year since he retired it’s been brought up, I guess it’s finally come to fruition.
“Old Camberwell is going to clear him for the day and we really appreciate that.
“It should be a big day for the club.”
Campbell, who turns 31 the following day, said the timing couldn’t have been better.
He will train with the Cats on the Thursday night leading up to the clash and speak at club functions before and after the game.
“It’s my birthday on June 2 so it will be good to be home,” Campbell said.
“Obviously I grew up there and my old footy coach is a family mate who I’ve known pretty much my whole life.
“He asked if I was keen to play and they threw a few dates at me. It should be good.”
The Tigers are now coached by former Rutherglen coach Mark Sarau.
Next Saturday’s clash will be the first time Sarau coaches against his old club.
