Ruckman Tom Campbell is eying time in the senior side, but his current task in the VFL is proving just as worthwhile.

While playing senior football is his goal, Campbell said he is building an invaluable chemistry with the next generation of players at Footscray.

“To have a focus of improvement and have guys around me that are in the same position helps,” Campbell said.

“Also to have our own footy club, Footscray, I feel a part of the footy Club when I play there, that helps.

“In the VFL we’ve had one of the most dominant midfields in the competition and that can only be a positive thing for the team in the long term.”

That chemistry extends to the growing partnership between Campbell and fellow tall Ayce Cordy who have been a dominant pairing in the VFL with their ruck and forward rotations.

“Ayce and I are working on a partnership where we don’t lose anything in either position when we switch,” he said.

“If I can be dominating in the ruck and Ayce be going well up forward and we switch and we don’t lose much then that’s a great result for the team – we’ve been working on that consistency throughout the year.

“The modern game it requires you to be able to play multiple positions, for both of us to be able to work on ruck craft and forward craft, it will only benefit us in the long run.”

While drafted as a ruckman, the 22-year-old has been diligently working on his forward craft – and while he has had to work at it, he understands the benefit of being a dual position player.

“It isn’t something that comes naturally to me but Ash Hansen and Shannon Grant have been really good for me to learn that craft and all things that I need to know,” he said.

“To become a more complete footballer is the ultimate goal – there are so many different facets of the game that I work on week to week.

“I think by taking a pretty simple focus into games and just working hard, I’ve found that my performance has improved across the board both inside the contest and around the ground.”

Campbell is currently averaging almost six marks, four tackles, 40 hitouts and a goal per match for the Footscray Bulldogs and is a large contributor to the team’s midfield dominance.