Wayne Campbell Biography

Wayne Campbell departs the Suns after four seasons as general manager to join Sydney as the head of the Swans' academy.

Gold Coast appoints Wayne Campbell as its new football manager.

"It's a really exciting opportunity. There is a clear path forward for the football program and I'll aim to do everything I can, to help this club strive for success," Campbell said.

After months of speculation about his future at Greater Western Sydney, Wayne Campbell parts ways with the club just weeks after the club's maiden Grand Final appearance.

Campbell, who was the Giants' footy boss for the past four seasons and has a contract for 2020, has been replaced by the club's list manager Jason McCartney.

"Jason's existing relationships with our playing group, coaching staff and wider football department staff sees him well placed to ensure a smooth leadership transition as we head towards the 2020 AFL and AFLW seasons," GWS chief executive Dave Matthews said.

"We wish Wayne Campbell the best for the future and thank him for his contribution since joining the club at the start of the 2016 AFL season."

Wayne Campbell's two main football lives will overlap in the 2019 Grand Final, when Greater Western Sydney locks horns with Richmond at the MCG.

The former Tigers captain and Hall of Famer is the Giants' football boss these days, and he joked that he views his playing days "almost like it was someone else".

"It's around this time of year where you think about (not being a premiership player), and there is the absolute line of the 'haves' and 'have nots'," Campbell said.

"When you sit in the 'have nots', you feel like you're not quite complete, but would I wake up a happier person every day if I had a premiership? I don't think so.

"Would I have loved to win a premiership? I would have given anything I had during my 15 years to do it – and I did, but we didn't get there."

Campbell is in a WhatsApp group with fellow old Tigers people, and the banter – plus congratulations – is already flowing.

"It's probably a curiosity (with others) because of my past, but my family and I have invested so much into the Giants that it really wouldn't matter who we were playing," he said.

"If Richmond was playing in the Grand Final and it wasn't against us, would I barrack for them? Yeah, absolutely. But I'm just thinking about how we can beat the opposition, and they just happen to wear the colours I had a bit to do with."

GWS coach Leon Cameron has rubbished reports of tension between footy manager Wayne Campbell and several key players.

A story published by foxsports.com.au on Monday night questioned Campbell's job security at the Giants because of strained relationships with other staff members and the club's poor record in player rentention.

"I work closely with Wayne and our coaches and our players work closely with Wayne," Cameron said.

"The number of players we've re-contracted and the amount of time he spends with our players is phenomenal, so I don't see that (communication) as an issue at all.

"He's contracted until the end of next year like I am, and he's rock solid at our footy club and he's been fantastic."

Lachie Keeffe signs with GWS as a delisted free agent.

"Lachie can play as a tall defender or forward, but given his height and the retirements of Shane Mumford and Tom Downie, we see that he can provide us some coverage in the ruck, too," GWS football manager Wayne Campbell said.

"Lachie has developed a lot as a footballer in his time in the AFL and we look forward to that continuing at the Giants in 2018."

John Worsfold is one of four additions to a revamped AFL Laws of the Game committee.

Collingwood premiership player Michael Christian, umpiring director Wayne Campbell and umpire's coach Hayden Kennedy are the other new members of the committee.

Former Richmond captain Wayne Campbell will replace Jeff Gieschen as the AFL's national umpiring director.

"The AFL is delighted Wayne has accepted this role as his experience in implementing programs for elite performance at club level will be invaluable for AFL umpiring," AFL general manager of football operations Mark Evans said.

"His understanding of the modern game and trends on the field will assist the AFL Laws of the Game process and he possesses the administrative, management and leadership skills to drive the recruitment and retention of umpires nationally and expand the talent pathway programs."

Richmond assistant coach and former captain Wayne Campbell has withdrawn from the race for the senior coaching job next year.

Campbell, 36, told club president Gary March and head of football Craig Cameron last night he needed more time learning the complexities of the coaching business.

"I just think I'm not quite ready," he told the Herald Sun.

"I reckon I'm about 80 per cent, and that's nowhere near enough. It's just such a full-on job."

Jason Akemanis has called on the Tigers to appoint his former teammate Craig McRae as their caretaker coach.

"Wayne Campbell was an assistant coach over with the Western Bulldogs ... he would be a fine inclusion, David King knows his stuff. Craig McRae is a personal friend of mine, he would be my favourite, only because he's had his own team. He's done very, very well, he's a very, very switched on man when it comes to footy," Akermanis said

Richmond has ruled out Mick Malthouse and Kevin Sheedy as its coach next year to replace Terry Wallace, with assistant coach Wayne Campbell the early favourite.