David Harding
Cain LynchCallinan ready for AFL call-up
December 7th 2010 09:44
Sourced: The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania
by Brett Stubbs
THE feel good story of Tasmanian football might finally be completed today if Adelaide selects Ian Callinan as a mature-age rookie.
After being overlooked in every draft national, pre-season and rookie since he was 17 despite numerous awards and accolades, it is believed the 27-year-old will become a Crow today.
There are six pre-season picks and 87 rookie draft selections today, with Adelaide's first pick at 15.
An Adelaide spokesman said no guarantees had been given to Callinan, who kicked four goals in a best-on-ground performance for Central District in the SANFL grand final, because Greater Western Sydney had the first eight selections.
Callinan said the club had not given him any indication as to his chances.
"They didn't tell me not to go to training [today] so I'll just got along and see what happens," Callinan said.
"It is hard to say, on a personal note I think I have done everything I possibly can. I wouldn't say more confident, I'm a bit older, a bit more mature and know how to handle it a bit better now."
But AFL Tasmania's high-performance manager Nick Probert was confident Callinan's AFL aspirations would finally be realised.
"He is the only one [non-listed player] training there so you don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out he is going to be a very strong chance," Probert said.
"Indications are he has got a strong chance. But how many times has he nearly been drafted before? You feel for him but they are very genuine, it seems."
Probert believes Callinan will have an immediate impact on the AFL next season playing as a small forward.
"He is definitely being groomed for immediate impact," he said.
"You don't pick a guy at 27 to develop him for a couple of years.
"Time and time again we have seen these mature-age players who have been good players make the transition straight away [Fremantle's Michael] Barlow and [Geelong's James] Podsiadly obviously and he's as well performed as those blokes and maybe even better performed."
Callinan was a 2000 under-18 All Australian as well as winner of the Hunter Harrison Medal in the same year as the best player in division two, but at 171cm was considered too short for the AFL.
He won the 2005 J. J. Liston Trophy as the VFL's best and fairest before crossing to SANFL club Central District where he has played 75 games, kicking 148 goals.
He has played in four straight premierships and won two club best and fairest awards.
by Brett Stubbs
THE feel good story of Tasmanian football might finally be completed today if Adelaide selects Ian Callinan as a mature-age rookie.
Ian Callinan in action for Central District in the SANFL.
After being overlooked in every draft national, pre-season and rookie since he was 17 despite numerous awards and accolades, it is believed the 27-year-old will become a Crow today.
There are six pre-season picks and 87 rookie draft selections today, with Adelaide's first pick at 15.
An Adelaide spokesman said no guarantees had been given to Callinan, who kicked four goals in a best-on-ground performance for Central District in the SANFL grand final, because Greater Western Sydney had the first eight selections.
Callinan said the club had not given him any indication as to his chances.
"They didn't tell me not to go to training [today] so I'll just got along and see what happens," Callinan said.
"It is hard to say, on a personal note I think I have done everything I possibly can. I wouldn't say more confident, I'm a bit older, a bit more mature and know how to handle it a bit better now."
But AFL Tasmania's high-performance manager Nick Probert was confident Callinan's AFL aspirations would finally be realised.
"He is the only one [non-listed player] training there so you don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out he is going to be a very strong chance," Probert said.
"Indications are he has got a strong chance. But how many times has he nearly been drafted before? You feel for him but they are very genuine, it seems."
Probert believes Callinan will have an immediate impact on the AFL next season playing as a small forward.
"He is definitely being groomed for immediate impact," he said.
"You don't pick a guy at 27 to develop him for a couple of years.
"Time and time again we have seen these mature-age players who have been good players make the transition straight away [Fremantle's Michael] Barlow and [Geelong's James] Podsiadly obviously and he's as well performed as those blokes and maybe even better performed."
Callinan was a 2000 under-18 All Australian as well as winner of the Hunter Harrison Medal in the same year as the best player in division two, but at 171cm was considered too short for the AFL.
He won the 2005 J. J. Liston Trophy as the VFL's best and fairest before crossing to SANFL club Central District where he has played 75 games, kicking 148 goals.
He has played in four straight premierships and won two club best and fairest awards.
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