BY his own admission, Tasmanian Seth Campbell has been flying under the radar. In most years, Campbell’s invite to the AFL National Draft Combine would be highly talked about across his home state, and indeed his region in the north west.

But in 2022, Campbell has had to share the limelight with potential first round draft pick Lachlan Cowan. Though more of a later draft prospect, the mid-forward has enjoyed his experience, describing it as “interesting and fun”.

“I think it’s been a good experience. Definitely enjoying it,” Campbell said. “I’ve been pretty confident in the interviews so felt I’ve done well.”

The Tasmanian burst onto AFL Draft radars with a strong performance against Queensland last season in the Under 17s clash, with Campbell comfortable in the heat of the Sunshine State.

“I do a bit of preseason training in Queensland over the Christmas break so I was pretty used to the heat, and obviously like playing in the heat so it was pretty good,” Campbell said.

Travel is not a new phenomenon for Campbell. Being Tasmanian, even playing NAB League games sees the draft hopeful having to travel interstate regularly for matches. If he lands on an AFL list, he inevitably has to move interstate, but Campbell said it helped the Devils form a stronger bond, and steer them all the way to a preliminary final.

“I think all coming together when we were travelling definitely helped going into the games, all getting around each other,” he said. Winning a certain amount of games was definitely the number one goal. But I think we bonded really well together and really wanted success.”

The mid-forward was a late inclusion to the Draft Combine, and he looks back at his performance against the Northern Knights which got him over the line.

In Round 15, the Devils had 29 scoring shots to 15, running out 34-point winners over the Knights, as Campbell racked up 21 disposals, nine marks, six tackles and five inside 50s in the win. A 10-goal haul for North Launceston in the TSL didn’t hurt, either.

“Going into the last game against Northern Knights was a bit of pressure just to play a bit better just to get my name up there again, and I think I did the job just to get invited,” Campbell said.

Campbell lists his strengths as his running capacity and being able to create space off the back of that running. Along with his clean hands, Campbell projects as a dangerous player in the front half of the ground, with his self-confessed best position being at half-forward. As for improvements, Campbell is looking to work on his contested game to add another string to his bow.

At the start of the year, Campbell created a list of goals to achieve in his top-age season. The first was playing Round 1 with the Devils, then earning Allies representation, and finally a Draft Combine invite. Having ticked all three off, there was just one more goal left unchecked – landing on an AFL list in next month’s draft.