Perspective and balance help Chesser thrive

'Dragons Tales' is a series of indepth feature stories on some of our top prospects in 2021, exploring their junior careers, their upbringing, the ups and downs of the dealing with COVID complications and more, written by Jonty Ralphsmith. This week we will be focusing on running defender/midfielder, Campbell Chesser. 

After Scott Pendlebury talked to the AFL academy squad earlier this year, Campbell Chesser stayed back to pick the Collingwood skipper’s brain.  

It was during this conversation where Pendlebury recommended Chesser take-up pilates while recovering from his meniscus injury.   

Returning home to Albury during Melbourne’s first major lockdown this year in late May gave him the time, opportunity and comfort to explore different elements to get him back on the park and find out how helpful it is.  

“It’s a good aspect of training that not many people look at so it’s just finding little ways to get better and it’s an interesting little thing.   

“There’s a few movements that you wouldn’t normally incorporate into your training, strengthening your core and muscles you haven’t activated before. It’s really good for balance and speaking to some boys in the AFL system now, they love it, they do it every week so I think trying to incorporate it now and getting involved in it early.   

“It helps me strengthen around my knee and do other things to progress it a bit quicker than I anticipated.”  

The injury proved a frustrating one to overcome. He returned to the field against Tasmania in round 11 of the NAB League in July, backing up on limited minutes for Vic Country as skipper in the ‘challenge’ game against Vic Metro the following Friday, before it flared up again and lockdown returned, resulting in a four-hour trip back north. 

“You get small setbacks and small progressions which are pretty exciting, so you can go up and down throughout the week. You can do a running session and pull up sore and do another two days later and feel really good.  

“Also, later on in life I want to be able to move around, and not have pain in my knee, so I’ve just been trying to rehab that and strengthen anything.”  

He did part of his rehabilitation with Josh Sinn, who was also recovering from an injured hamstring at the time. The pair did bike, gym and ropes sessions together and the Sandy skipper said they helped each other’s recovery.  

“We’re both competitive so whenever we did rehab together, it was a competition which is the best thing for everybody in rehab,” Sinn said.  

“He was always on time and would get it done and then after it, he’d go and help out as a leader with people on the track.”  

Spoken to in August, though, Chesser is clearly irritated about the implications of the injury.

“You immediately think ‘oh, shit, could I be done for the year and I haven’t played because of COVID last year and this year I’ve played three and a half games so you start to think that in 24 months you’ve played 5-6 games which is pretty disappointing’, those thoughts start to creep in but you quickly move on."

The Chesser story follows that of an archetypal elite footballer – a desire to get to the top level and unwavering commitment in pursuit.  

But, alongside his dedication, less spoken about is his balance that those who see him up close are equally impressed by.  

“He's mature well beyond his years, Campbell – he’s probably the most level-headed and circumspect kid we’ve got in the program bar none,” 2021 Sandy coach Jackson Kornberg said.  

“He is meticulous and fastidious with how he prepares and trains but I don’t think it’s to an extreme where it’s crazy. He’s got a really good balance. He understands what he needs to do but he also knows what it is to be a kid as well and not just spend his 16s, 17s, 18s year as an ultra-professional."  

The golf course is his outlet at home and he’s spent summers on the Mornington Peninsula with friends including former Dragon and Essendon-listed Archie Perkins.  

The Melbourne Grammar boarding house gives him a good base to spend time with people away from the footy sphere with a mix of farmers, city kids and international students providing Chesser with perspective.  

Sinn has seen the development of Chesser’s balance up close as Dragons teammates.  

“He’s very just and strict-lined with everything he does.   

“He never does not enough but he never does more than enough. He does the right amount because he understands what needs to be done day in day out.  

“He’s getting more and more balanced and it’s gonna make him a better person for it.”  

Ahead of their match against Tassie, Sinn drove Chesser to the airport and sent him a text night prior to confirm logistics.   

“He didn’t reply until the morning when he woke up and he said, ‘oh sorry I was asleep’ and I thought it was a bit early [to be asleep] but he’s got everything all lined up and that’s what makes him tick and it’s a credit to him.” 

  Thanks for reading this week's edition of 'Dragons Tales'. Next week, 2021 captain Josh Sinn will be our fifth and final entry.