[5] Immediately he arrived in Melbourne to commence his medical studies,[6] he began his career with Essendon, kicking a goal, and one of its best players, in the first match of the 1891 season, against Footscray, on 2 May 1891.
[7] Campbell played for Essendon in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) from 1891 to 1896, was its vice-captain in 1893, and was a member of its four premiership sides.
[8][9] Although not playing at all during the home-and-away season, he played for Essendon (VFL) in the first two matches of the three-match inaugural VFL finals series on 21 August (against Geelong) at the Corio Oval,[10] on 28 August 1897 (against Collingwood) at the MCG.
[11] He was unavailable for the third and final match, on 4 September 1897 (against Melbourne) at the Lake Oval, due to illness.
[12][13] On the basis of the team's victories in the round-robin competition, and because no Grand Final was needed, Essendon was awarded the 1897 premiership;[14] and, so, due to the round-robin nature of the contest, Campbell was (and still is) legitimately recognized as "a premiership player".