WAGGA Tigers premiership defence has been boosted by the mid-season signing of Jackson Kew.
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Tigers will be strengthened by the return of Kew for Saturday’s Riverina League showdown with Coolamon at Robertson Oval.
It will be the perfect homecoming for Kew, originally from Coolamon, against his junior club.
Kew spent two seasons at Tigers in 2012 and 2013 but is now based in Melbourne and will travel home most weeks to play.
Kew played at Eastern Football League club Norwood last season, while he has also played at Essendon Doutta Stars and Ballan since his time at Tigers.
Campbell is pleased to have Kew join him at Tigers.
“It’s super,” Campbell said.
“He can play all over the ground and he’s another bog body to help look after the young kids.
“He’ll give us a bit more variety and another older head around the place, we lost a few of them.
“He’s an experienced bloke and has played some decent footy.”
It was his strong friendship with Campbell that drew Kew back to Tigerland.
Kew is unable to train two nights a week in Melbourne, due to his personal training business, and could not commit to playing in the city.
Kew played with Campbell at Ainslie and Ballan and wanted to help out his mate at Tigers.
“Wanting to help out Shaun is the biggest thing,” Kew said.
“Having lost so many players from last year, I was keen to come and help him out in any way I can.”
Kew is currently training for a marathon so fitness is not going to be an issue.
Campbell plans to use Kew as a utility type player.
“You can play him everywhere,” he said.
“He can play through the middle, off half-back, or kick goals.”
Kew will be Tigers’ second player that will travel from Melbourne after recruiting ruckman Simon Hallsworth in the off-season.
Hallsworth will return for Saturday’s clash against the Hoppers, after missing Tigers’ first win of the season against Narrandera.
Campbell gave little away when it came to his own chances of playing against Coolamon on Saturday.
“I’ll probably play,” he said.
Campbell injured his ankle in the win over Narrandera last Saturday week. He was a late withdrawal from the Riverina League representative team to play AFL Canberra last Saturday due to the injury.
Tigers will be without talented teens, Brendan Myers, Jake Gaynor and Shaun Driscoll, due to representative duties.
Coolamon will be chasing their first win of the season.
