On ANZAC Day at UTAS Stadium, Hawthorn and Gold Coast have the honour of playing for the coveted Alec Campbell Cup, in memory of all those who have served in the Australian and New Zealand armed forces. 

Alec Campbell was the world’s last Gallipoli veteran, a local boy from Launceston and a proud Tasmanian.

When war broke out, Alec lied about his age and, at 16, joined the army in search of adventure. In 1915, he sailed out of Melbourne to the little-known Gallipoli Peninsula on the other side of the world. 

Not even being old enough to shave, Campbell gained the nickname "The Kid", his uniform bunching up at his ankles and loose around his neck. He was wounded whilst carrying ammunition, stores and water to the trenches and was evacuated with the rest of the Australian forces in 1916. A taste for adventure had opened his eyes to the horror of war, and at the tender age of 17, Alec Campbell was already a Gallipoli veteran. 

When Alec passed away in 2002, he was the world’s last Gallipoli veteran.  

This game, part of the AFL's ANZAC Appeal Round, acknowledges Alec Campbell and commemorates Tasmania’s contribution to Australia’s fight for freedom.  

This is the fifth time the Club has played for the Alec Campbell Cup. 

Hawthorn members and fans are encouraged to be in their seats half an hour before kick-off to support a special ceremonial ANZAC tribute delivered in partnership with RSL Tasmania and featuring contributions from members of the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Australian Navy. 

At the end of the game in the winning rooms, Alec Campbell’s granddaughter will present a medal to the player on the winning team who best demonstrates the ANZAC spirit (to be determined by the winning Club President), as well as the Alec Campbell Cup itself.