WHEN THE trade went through between Carlton and West Coast in October last year, it was hard for two reunited teammates not to reminisce.

It was at the end of the 2025 season when Campbell Chesser requested to become a Blue, and in doing so, he would be linking up with someone he has a long history with.

Back in the under-12s for the Wodonga Bulldogs, Chesser played in a premiership with Ollie Hollands. Two years later, they shared in the success for their cricket club.

After that point, the two went their separate ways. Chesser became a Lavington Panther and then boarded Melbourne Grammar, while Hollands stayed at Wodonga until he headed to Geelong Grammar.

In 2021, Hollands watched on as Chesser was selected with pick No.14 in the national draft to the Eagles. Then, 12 months later, Hollands was a first-round selection in his own right to his boyhood club.

Now, they enter 2026 hoping to share the field as teammates - just they did when they were growing up.

“It probably started before we even got to play together, because we were doing athletics. ‘Chess’ was in the 100 metres and 200 metres, while I was running laps - he’d walk off the track after a few sprints while I was doing a couple of kilometres,” Hollands told Carlton Media this week.

“We played in a flag for Wodonga Bulldogs at Lavington Panthers’ oval as under-12s - I ended up moving to Lavington later down the track,” Chesser added.

“We started our journey together, which is pretty cool. Both of our families were surrounded by the club, it was great.”

When Chesser headed to IKON Park last year, the Blues immediately cited his “explosive speed” as his key asset. For Hollands, that’s the first thing he remembers about a younger Campbell when they were emerging through the ranks.

Hollands is also of the belief that Chesser made the right call to side with football over cricket - Chesser agreed in an instant.

“Quick, he was always quick - even from little athletics days, it started there first. Then we got to play in that footy premiership together, and then an under-14s cricket premiership… ‘Chess’ was a one-and-done operator - one year, won a flag, finished up,” Hollands said.

“I was horrible. I fielded at fine leg, batted at seven, averaged seven: I got the medal and got out of there,” Chesser said with a laugh.

“It was just great to have a familiar face when I first arrived at Carlton after making the move from Perth. I’ve been watching from afar and he’s had a great start to his career, some great experience here at Carlton: I can’t wait to play alongside him.”

For Ollie, it’s just another example of the beauty of football.

He recalls watching on when ‘Chess’ was drafted, living out his dream as Hollands set his sights on the draft 12 months later. For both of them, it’s a reminder of like back home in Wodonga - an area which recently became a part of Carlton’s Next Generation Academy zone.

That connection is growing even stronger at IKON Park, especially when you consider the arrival of father-son recruit Harry Dean, who represented Lavington and the Murray Bushrangers throughout his junior football career.

“I’ve been pretty fortunate to play with ‘Lij’, and now getting to play with a great mate that I grew up with, it gives you another purpose to play footy,” Hollands said.

“Now that ‘Chess’ is at Carlton, I’m super excited to play with him: hopefully we get to run out there together. Our families know each other pretty well, so hopefully we get to enjoy that together - I’m super excited for what 2026 has to offer.”