MELBOURNE recruit Robert Campbell says he wouldn't have pursued a return to the AFL if he didn't have absolute faith in his fitness.

A day after meeting with Campbell, the Demons handed the 28-year-old his second chance at the top level at pick 75 in Tuesday's NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

Campbell, who retired at the end of last year because of a degenerative knee injury, had played 116 matches for Hawthorn and was a member of its 2008 premiership side.

The ruckman said he had the urge to keep playing at the start of the year, and that weight loss and favourable reports on his knee had helped him rediscover form with Box Hill in the VFL.

"I just kept training and my leg kept pulling up really well," Campbell said.

"I'm the kind of person that wouldn't put himself out there if I didn't feel I could definitely do it, so I'm really confident.

"It's something that I suppose I've been striving for all year but for the day to actually turn up and for it to actually happen, it's a bit crazy but I'm very excited.

"It's been a whirlwind but I'm glad the whirlwind's stopped."

After missing Gold Coast's intake of pre-listed players and then being overlooked in last month's national draft, Campbell said there were moments when he doubted another opportunity would come.

However, he said a year off from AFL football had given him a new outlook on life and that he would have coped if the rookie draft hadn't gone his way.

"A couple of times over the four or five weeks I've felt like I was probably heading somewhere and then not, and then was and then wasn't," he said.

"I'm glad the rollercoaster's finished and glad I finished here.

"It's weird because it's 10 years obviously to the draft that I was picked up last time.

"I was sitting at home probably just as nervous as I was 10 years ago."

Campbell's experience and size has bolstered Melbourne's list following the departure of ruckmen Paul Johnson and John Meesen, and veterans James McDonald and Cameron Bruce.

Campbell said he was looking forward to the guidance he could offer his younger teammates.

"I got told when I first got here that I was the second oldest at the club," he said.

"That's obviously a funny thing to say, but at the same time I'm really excited about being one of the older guys.

"It almost thrusts you into a leadership role straight away, so [I'm] extremely excited about the role that I'll be playing next year and hopefully I can help the side become successful."