Campbell Chesser Copy

Young Achiever: Campbell Chesser racing towards football dream

DOUBLE THREAT: Star sprinter and footballer Campbell Chesser is one of 12 nominees for the 2020 Norske Skog Young Achiever of the Year Award.

When Campbell Chesser took up athletics he was looking to find an edge over his opponents on the footy field- little did he know what he’d go on to achieve in both sports.

The 16-year-old from Wodonga has competed at national level for athletics five times specialising in the 100m, 200m, and four by 100m relay events.

While football is Chesser’s major passion, the Melbourne Grammar student still finds time to hit the track twice a week while also juggling his football commitments.

“I wanted to find a weapon I guess in footy and that’s what I kind of used it for over the last few years,” Chesser said.

“It’s definitely helped with not only my playing ability but my training standards.

“It’s definitely helped me on and off the field.”

Chesser turned heads on the footy field last year being named in the All Australian under-16’s side as well as co-captaining the Victorian Country team.

“It was a pretty big honour and a shock to be honest,” he said.

The former Wodonga turned Lavington footballer started playing the game at a young age through family influence and now represents his school in Melbourne, as well as playing for the Sandringham Dragons in the NAB league.

The speedy teenager one day dreams of going all the way.

“It’s been a bit of a build up but it’s always been a dream of mine to play AFL,” he said.

“It’s heading in the right direction but there’s still a lot of work to do, so I’ll see how things pan out.”

Chesser’s hard work and determination across both disciplines has earned him a spot among this year’s Norske Skog Young Achiever of the Year Award nominees.

The year-11 student said it’s an honour to be recognised.

“My grandfather worked at the paper mill, so I knew a little bit about the background, but I didn’t know too much about the award itself,” he said.

“I looked at the other people who were nominated and thought it was a pretty big honour to be amongst those names.”

Chesser has another big year planned, starting with competing in school athletics finals in Melbourne.

“It’s a crazy atmosphere, we get big crowds down at lakeside,” Chesser said.

The youngster is currently in the under-18 Victorian football hub as a bottom age player and is eyeing off a final place in the squad, as well as dreaming of a spot in the under-17’s All Stars future game to be played in Melbourne later in the year.

“That’s another goal,” he said.

“I’m hoping to just play consistent footy and enjoy the year as a bottom ager.”

Source – The Border Mail, 28.01.2020