The progression of quality young AFL players often isn’t linear.

They can arrive on the game’s biggest stage in impressive style, only to stagnate for a while because of their lack of experience.

That hasn’t been the case, however, with exciting Richmond forward Seth Campbell.

Taken by the Tigers with their first pick (No. 12 overall) in the 2022 AFL rookie draft, Campbell’s first season at the Swinburne Centre was severely interrupted by injury issues.

He managed just a handful of VFL appearances in 2023, but the next season the Tasmanian recruit was a shining light for Richmond in a two-win, wooden-spoon season.

Campbell played 21 games in the 2024 season and won the Cosgrove-Jenkins Best First Year Player award.

Last year, Campbell took another significant step forward, winning the Michael Roach Medal as the Club’s leading goalkicker with 28 goals and finishing equal fifth in the Jack Dyer Medal.

Two rounds into the 2026 season, the 21-year-old has taken his game to a higher level again.

He had 17 disposals and seven score involvements in the Round 1 match against Carlton, producing some typically clever pieces of play throughout.

Then, in Saturday's Gold Coast clash at the MCG, Campbell delivered arguably the best display of his 45-game AFL career, finishing with an equal career-high 19 disposals, seven contested possessions, four marks, an equal career-high/team-high three goals, career-high four clearances, four inside-50s, equal team-high seven score involvements and 395 metres gained.

Obviously, it’s early days yet in the 2026 season, and in Campbell’s AFL career, but the signs are strong that he can became a genuine A-grader with significant X-factor for the Tigers.