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Braeden Campbell in heartbreaking family revelation as Swans pull off miracle comeback win over GWS

Campbell's grandfather passed away less than 48 hours before the crunch final.

ben talintyre
Sports Reporter
·5-min read

Braeden Campbell revealed he played through the grief of losing one of his biggest supporters, his grandfather, to lift the Swans to a huge preliminary-final victory on Saturday. Before every game of his AFL career to date, Campbell would pick up the phone to chat with his grandfather, Jim.

If he hadn't called him in time on game day, Jim would do whatever was necessary to get his grandson on the phone to talk footy, life and everything in between. But on Saturday as Campbell celebrated one of the finest moments of his young career, being selected for an AFL preliminary-final, he had to go without that phone call.

“He was a massive fan,” Campbell told the Gold Coast Bulletin. “I’d call him before every game, and he’d call me. Obviously, I didn’t get that phone call this week, but yeah, it was something special.”

Pictured Braeden Campbell
Braeden Campbell has revealed he played through the grief of losing one of his biggest supporters, his grandfather, to lift the Swans to a huge AFL preliminary final victory. Image: Getty/AAP

Campbell starred in an incredible cameo off the bench to lift the Swans to a six-point win over the Giants. Trailing at every change, the minor premiers looked destined for defeat but roared back into the contest in the final term to claim a gritty 13.10 (88) to 12.10 (82) victory in front of 43,189 fans.

And Campbell's brave performance to play through immeasurable heartache following Jim’s passing on Thursday night, saw his teammates rally around him after the full-time siren. The 22-year-old started as the substitute and was brought into the action in the third quarter.

He stood up in the final term, kicking one goal from his eight touches, with his efforts contributing greatly to the six-point win. And his Swans teammates were quick to pay him credit for an immense performance. "Seriously. His grandpa died yesterday," teammate Tom Papley told Channel 7 post-match.

“To come out and do what he did today, it’s unbelievable. He’s won the game for us. Ultimate heart, Bloods spirit. That is just unbelievable.” Campbell’s sister Hannah is a Swans physio and also worked the game, with the pair both wearing black armbands in memory of their grandpa.

"(Campbell’s) had a tough week, his grandfather passed away. He didn’t do much training, carrying a bit of an injury," his close mate Errol Gulden told Triple M. "To come on and do what he did was unbelievable. To see him break out like that on the big stage, you just get so much enjoyment out of watching him play." And the AFL world commended the Swans youngster's bravery.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 07: Swans head coach John Longmire celebrates with Braeden Campbell of the Swans after the AFL First Qualifying Final match between Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants at Sydney Cricket Ground, on September 07, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Swans coach John Longmire said Braeden Campbell performance while dealing with such grief was incredible. Image: Getty

Swans coach John Longmire said Campbell's performance while dealing with such grief was incredible and is something he and his family should be really proud of. "To win some big 50-50 moments, be hard and clean after a pretty tough week — injury-wise and what was happening off the field — is a great credit to him," Longmire said.

"It should be a really proud moment for him and his family. They lost a loved one during the week. For them to be able to sit down as a family tonight and reflect on how BJ’s grandfather impacted him and the family is a pretty special moment."

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The win against the Giants will see Longmire's men host a preliminary final in a fortnight, while GWS face a semi-final against Brisbane, who scored a 28-point win over Carlton in the elimination final at the Gabba on Saturday night. Saturday's victory is the first time the Swans have defeated their local rivals in September and Longmire says he was just relieved to get the win.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 07: Braeden Campbell of the Swans celebrates kicking a goal during the AFL First Qualifying Final match between Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants at Sydney Cricket Ground, on September 07, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Braeden Campbell stood up in the fourth term, kicking one goal from his eight touches, with his efforts contributing greatly to the six-point win. Image: Getty

"We played some super footy in the first half of the year, but in some ways, I was happier with the last three weeks," Longmire said. "I was just happy that we were able to grind it out because this is what it's about.

"It's about, sometimes when you're not playing that well and the opposition are on song, and you've got to hang in there and hang in there and grind it out, and then we're able to do it and then go, which was fantastic."