AFL Draft 2023: Tasmanian Jack Callinan, son of ex-Crow Ian Callinan, rises as top-30 prospect
When he was five, Jack Callinan presented dad, Ian, with his guernsey on debut. Will the reverse soon happen? The rising draft prospect opens up on his love for family – and the Crows.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Jack Callinan was five years old when he presented dad, Ian, with his Adelaide Crows guernsey before his AFL debut.
The Callinans are hoping for the reverse to happen in coming seasons.
AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan has listed Jack, a small forward from Tasmania, among his top 30 prospects for November’s national draft.
The 17-year-old, who grew up in Adelaide during his dad’s 32-game career with the Crows and four-flag stint at SANFL club Central District, returned to his former home state on Sunday as part of the Allies side that beat SA in the first game of the national under-18 titles.
His performances for Tasmania Devils in the Coates Talent League this season have impressed recruiters and boosted his draft stocks.
The Tassie vice-captain and AFL Academy member is averaging 17.4 disposals, 3.2 majors and eight score involvements from five matches, headlined by a seven-goal haul against the Northern Territory in April.
At 180cm, Jack is 9cm taller than Ian, is regarded as a better mark and models his game on GWS captain Toby Greene.
But there are plenty of similarities between father and son.
“He’s got really good skills and a really good footy IQ,” Ian told The Advertiser.
“They were probably my biggest strengths.
“I believe he’s good enough to be drafted but … you need a bit of luck, a club that’s looking at that sort of player.
“I thought I was going to get drafted at 18 and it didn’t quite happen.”
Jack’s football journey started in Adelaide in Gaza’s under-6s after Ian moved from Tasmania, aged 24, with his wife Lauren to join SANFL club Central District.
Watching the Bulldogs on the concrete steps at Elizabeth Oval then going into the change rooms post-match are among Jack’s earliest and fondest memories.
“He’d go to footy, sit in the pram and you wouldn’t hear beep out of him,” Ian recalled.
“The older he got, he’d go out and have a kick.
“He’d come to trainings with me and all the boys, they absolutely love him.
“I speak to both the Gowans boys (James and Chris) who are really good mates, they ring me to see how he’s going.
“Thommo (Bulldogs coach and ex-captain Paul Thomas) and Buckets (Jason MacKenzie), they used to take him under their wing and have a kick with them, so he feels part of the footy club.”
Jack also had those sorts of experiences at the Crows.
They drafted Ian as a mature-age rookie when he was 27 at the end of a 2010 season in which he won a premiership, best-and-fairest and Jack Oatey Medal with the Bulldogs.
Jack handed Ian his Adelaide guernsey before his AFL debut against Geelong at Kardinia Park in round 14, 2011.
“It was something along the lines of ‘go daddy, hope you go well, I love you’,” said Ian about his son’s pre-game message to him.
“I love it, it’s something I’ll take to my grave.”
Jack does not remember doing the presentation but calls it a privilege.
“It’s something he worked really hard for,” Jack said.
“For him to repay the favour would be unbelievable, but I’m just looking to give myself the best chance to get drafted first.”
Jack’s prospects have risen since focusing on footy rather than cricket this year.
The batsman had made Tasmanian under-17 and under-19 cricket sides, but missed both due to camps with the Allies and AFL Academy.
A strong finish to his first campaign with the Devils last season increased his hunger to be drafted.
Jack said he picked his dad’s brains every day, describing him as an ideal role model.
“He’s an inspiration the way his career panned out, having to wait (to get drafted),” he said.
“I love him to bits.”
Ian has also inspired Jack with the way he has bounced back since suffering a stroke in 2020.
It happened while Ian was sleeping in the early hours of the morning, having woken with ringing in his ears and no control of his arm.
“That was a tough day, a tough couple of months and a tough couple of years through rehab, but he’s going well now,” said Jack, who kept playing footy during his dad’s recovery
“It’s something I can always look back on and not take anything for granted.”
Ian had about 18 months off work before returning to his job as a sprinkler fitter installing fire protection and was now back full-time.
He still gets fatigued and struggles to concentrate when tired.
Ian has resumed a bit of running this past week with the motivation to maintain his fitness.
The man affectionately known as “Wingnut” has kept an upbeat attitude throughout.
“There was a moment at the start (after the stroke) where I didn’t know where it was going to go, but I’m a pretty positive guy so once I knew it was more the cognitive and fatigue stuff, I knew in the long run I could probably beat that,” he said.
“The last thing I needed was my kids seeing me being negative and looking after myself.
“It’s about looking after my family and being able to be there for them.”
Along with watching Jack, Ian is coaching Harry’s under-10s footy team and also enjoys seeing daughter Grace, 7, play Aussie rules, both for Clarence.
The Callinans have remained diehard Crows fans since returning to live in Tasmania in 2016.
Jack ran onto the field with the team for Adelaide’s match against North Melbourne in Hobart in 2017, while his younger brother, Harry, did the same in Launceston in 2021.
The Callinans catch up with Taylor Walker, a family friend and Jack’s favourite player, whenever the Crows are in Tasmania.
“Watching games, I go through every emotion you can think of, whether they’re winning by 100 or losing by 100,” Jack said.
“The Showdown last year when Dawson kicked that goal, me and my brother nearly jumped through the roof.”
Last month on AFL.com.au, Crows national recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie named Ian as his favourite draft pick from his time at the club because of their friendship.
“It brought a tear to my eye,” Ian said.
“He was involved with the under-18 program down here when I was coming through and he’s a really good friend … and was lucky enough to give me an opportunity at Adelaide.”
Ian would love for the Crows to draft Jack but had no idea how things would unfold.
“To Haggis’s (Ogilvie’s) credit, I don’t put any pressure on him and he plays his cards close to his chest,” he said.
“Adelaide’s got some pretty good forwards running around at the moment.”
Ogilvie told AFL.com.au: “I feel so old because someone is going to draft his son (Jack). Imagine if you drafted the father and the son. I’m not sure that’s happened too many times before”.
Jack, whose grandfather is Tasmanian football hall of famer Des James, has spoken with a few AFL teams in get-to-know-you chats.
“Going to Adelaide would be nice, it’s my boyhood club, but I’m not fussed,” he said.
Ian had to wait nine years after he was eligible to reach the AFL.
The Callinans are hoping Jack only has to wait another five months.
WATCH: Long-range stunner keeps Dockers’ AFLW flag dream alive
Fremantle has surged into the second week of AFLW finals — and ended Essendon’s campaign — on the back of a clutch long-range goal from Gabby O’Sullivan.
Cornes: Brutally honest truth about the new Crow
Friendships have ended over honest opinions in the past. Let’s hope that’s not the case here, writes Graham Cornes.