Lots of upside to shift south

A VICTORIAN footballer who took a leap of faith and moved to Tasmania to escape a Coviddictated life has become a huge advocate for the TSL.

And North Hobart’s boom recruit Matthew Campbell says he’s staying put in the Apple Isle to be part of something special at his new club.

Campbell moved to Hobart in February last year, after choosing to escape his monotonous lifestyle in the heavily Covid-impacted Melbourne.

Since moving across and finding a new home with the Demons, the 27-year-old has toiled away as a forward in the Development League, but after being moved into defence, has started to flourish in the senior side this season.

In the Dees’ last outing in round 13, the forward-turneddefender put in his best outing in red and blue with an impressive performance on Clarence spearhead Colin Garland.

It led to Campbell being awarded best on ground in the TSL Player of the Year award, despite the Dees losing by two points.

Eighteen months into his time in Tasmania and the TSL, the Victorian said he couldn’t be happier.

“I’m absolutely loving it, Campbell said.

“While the footy club isn’t getting the results we want, we are a young club and have such a great culture.

“To be honest, it feels like a place I’ve been for 10 to 15 years already.”

“I didn’t know anyone down here and a great thing is that the relationships I’ve built at the footy club helps me with the social side of things as well, which has been great and it’s really like one big family.”

Campbell said a factor in his decision to uproot his life and move to Tasmania was the opportunity to play in a statewide competition and that he couldn’t be more impressed with the TSL.

“I’m a footy-mad person and I wanted to try and play in a high-level competition, and the TSL ticked a lot of boxes for me before I want to retire in four or five years’ time.

“Back home, I played in a lower competition in the last three or four years with mates and so it took me some time to adjust to the pace of the game here and its really impressed me.

“The pace and the skill and the professionalism, and you can see all the players are super-fit and the ball just pings around a lot and it’s a great standard of footy and the facilities and grounds are just great too.”

Such is Campbell’s enjoyment with the lifestyle here, the newly-adopted Tasmanian said he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

“I’ve told my boss and the footy club I’m not going anywhere, because I’m loving it down here,” he said.

“I really think what ‘Frenchy’ [coach Clinton French] and the club is building is special and I don’t want to leave and then miss out on the joy the club may see in the future.”

North Hobart will host North Launceston on Saturday.

jarrod.lawler@news.com.au