▁goal , ▁and ▁one ▁of ▁its ▁best ▁players , ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁match ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 8 9 1 ▁season , ▁against ▁Foot sc ary , ▁on ▁ 2 ▁May ▁ 1 8 9 1 . ▁ ▁Campbell ▁played ▁for ▁Ess end on ▁in ▁the ▁Victor ian ▁Football ▁Association ▁( V FA ) ▁from ▁ 1 8 9 1 ▁to ▁ 1 8 9 6 , ▁was ▁its ▁vice - capt ain ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 3 , ▁and ▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁its ▁four ▁premi ership ▁sides . ▁ ▁Although ▁not ▁playing ▁at ▁all ▁during ▁the ▁home - and - away ▁season , ▁he ▁played ▁for ▁Ess end on ▁( V FL ) ▁in ▁the ▁first ▁two ▁matches ▁of ▁the ▁three - match ▁inaug ural ▁V FL ▁final s ▁series ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁August ▁( ag ain st ▁Ge el ong ) ▁at ▁the ▁Cor io ▁O val , ▁on ▁ 2 8 ▁August ▁ 1 8 9 7 ▁( ag ain st ▁Col ling wood ) ▁at ▁the ▁M CG . ▁He ▁was ▁un available ▁for ▁the ▁third ▁and ▁final ▁match , ▁on ▁ 4 ▁September ▁ 1 8 9 7 ▁( ag ain st ▁Melbourne ) ▁at ▁the ▁Lake ▁O val , ▁due ▁to ▁ill ness . ▁On ▁the ▁basis ▁of ▁the ▁team ' s ▁vict ories ▁in ▁the ▁round - ro bin ▁competition , ▁and ▁because ▁no ▁Grand ▁Final ▁was ▁needed , ▁Ess end on ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁ 1 8 9 7 ▁premi ership ;