He was a star full forward in the WAFL, a regular West Australian interstate representative, and famously for kicked 23 goals in a game for Western Australia against Queensland at the 1924 Hobart Carnival.
A few years later, South Fremantle lost its regular full-forward to injury, and Campbell was asked to fill in.
In 1923, Campbell sought a clearance to four-time defending premiers East Perth, but South Fremantle refused to clear him.
East Perth had secured employment for Campbell in the city, which was a means sometimes used to entice players to switch clubs without technically breaking the league's rules against amateurism; but South nevertheless refused the clearance, and the league's Protests and Disputes Board upheld South's position.
[4] Campbell was finally cleared to East Perth prior to the 1924 season, and immediately resumed his position as the league's foremost goalkicker.