Campbell Has More In Store

Illawarra Mercury

Friday January 4, 2008

By TIM KEEBLE

OVER the past 11 years or so, Mat Campbell has pulled on his beloved number 32 Hawks jersey 395 times.

Tonight the Wollongong captain will make his 396th appearance for the club, surpassing the mark set by best friend and former team-mate Glen Saville.

"It's a huge honour to be the most-capped player in any club," Campbell said after yesterday's final tune-up for tonight's home game against New Zealand.

"It was definitely in the back of my mind when Sav left. The only real positive I saw from him leaving was that I'd go past his record. We were both here together a long time and I want to stay and play for one club my whole career."

Campbell joined the Hawks in 1996, arriving in Wollongong the same time as former coach Brendan Joyce.

He played an integral role in the club's 2001 NBL championship victory and is desperate to see the Hawks survive their current financial crisis.

The former Bendigo junior said he wondered if he would ever reach Saville's record.

"That was one of the things that came into my head when this first came up. There was talk of the club falling over at Christmas and it weighed on my mind at the time," he said.

"Obviously it's more important the club goes on rather than any personal milestone, but it would've been extremely disappointing to finish on a note like that and not have the chance to get the record.

"When you look back at all the great players who've played here and some of the people who are called legends, it's a great honour. The next people behind me and Sav are 200-odd behind. Chuck (Harmison) and Gordie (McLeod) are legends here and it hits you when you realise you've played 200 games more."

Campbell married long-time partner Renee two years ago and the couple had their first child - daughter Hannah Mae - in October.

Despite an uncharacteristic run of injuries over the past 12 months, the former Australian Boomers guard believes he has plenty of good years ahead.

"Playing to 35 is a definite goal. It's always been the age I thought I could play to and up until last year the body has held up well," he said.

"When you first get in the NBL to start with, that's what you aspire for as a junior, and when you get there you're a bit overwhelmed. You just want to establish yourself and then the next focus is to play more minutes and move your way through to becoming a starter. But back then you don't have a certain time in your head. You just keep playing and see how you go.

"I haven't thought about retirement yet. But when the time comes, I want to stay involved in the game in some way. I don't know if coaching's really my thing, at least not straight after I stop playing. I always see myself in a role in the administration side of the game because I've always been interested in management. I've got a good relationship with most of the sponsors who've been around, and with the exposure I've had in Wollongong, being in administration would be a way to give back to the community."

MOST HAWKS GAMES

395 Mat Campbell/Glen Saville

235 Melvin Thomas

234 Chuck Harmison

215 Gordie McLeod

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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