Campbell pleaded guilty to rough conduct in a pre-season trial game against Charles Sturt University last month, where he was reported for a sling tackle that left Bushpigs player Connor Elliott concussed.

Tigers successfully had the conduct downgraded from intentional to careless, but were unable to convince the tribunal that the impact was medium, rather than high.

After originally staring down a four-game sentence, the downgrade resulted in Campbell being handed a three-game suspension.

It means Campbell will miss Tigers opening three games, against Turvey Park, Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong and Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes.

Campbell was disappointed with the hearing but will accept the suspension.

“It’s certainly disappointing,” Campbell said.

“I obviously don’t want to be missing the first three games.

“Let this be a lesson learnt, don’t tackle with any great force or you’re in strife. Don’t sling tackle or you could be missing three weeks.”

Campbell was represented by solicitor Morgan Jones, who presented a strong case on behalf of Wagga Tigers.

Elliott also appeared but had little recollection of the incident apart from having the ball, then waking up on the sidelines on a stretcher.

AFL Riverina had the trial game videoed, as a trial for the season proper, and footage of the tackle was used at the hearing.

Jones also showed video evidence of similar tackles in the AFL, and how they were graded, in support of his case.

Campbell will still line-up for Tigers in their final pre-seaosn hit-out against MCUE at Mangoplah Sportsground on Saturday.

He will then sit out Tigers’ first three games, a real blow for the club after losing a number of players over the off-season.

Tigers have the bye in round one and with the bye for representative football on May 19, Campbell will not play until Saturday May 26 against Narrandera at Narrandera Sportsground.