Watch the replay: Star Norwood recruit Jackson Callow set to shine in Redlegs’ SANFL clash with the Eagles

Reigning premier Woodville-West Torrens and flag contender Norwood have faced off in a mouth-watering SANFL clash. Relive all the drama now in our match replay video.

Andrew Capel

@andrewcapel

3 min read

May 29, 2021 - 4:49PM

Gun Norwood recruit Jackson Callow will feature in The Advertiser's live stream of the Redlegs v Eagles SANFL clash. Picture: Matt Loxton

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When dynamic Norwood key forward Jackson Callow was ripping the Adelaide defence to shreds at The Parade last Saturday, his high-profile mentor was watching from his family home in Launceston.

Marcos Ambrose – a dual V8 Supercars champion and later NASCAR driver – was sitting with Callow’s parents dissecting his game while he hauled in 11 marks, including seven contested, had 24 disposals and kicked 3.7 in the Redlegs’ convincing 48-point win.

In a standout performance which would have had AFL recruiters licking their lips, Callow beat four opponents, including AFL-listed pair Fischer McAsey and Josh Worrell, while recording a whopping 184 Champion Data ranking points.

Soon after the game finished, Ambrose was on the phone chatting with the 18-year-old, who will be one of the players to watch during this Saturday’s SANFL live stream on The Advertiser website.

“We talk each week and Marcos, in the past 12 months especially, has been there for me outside of sport as well,’’ said Callow, who is a strong contender to be selected in next Wednesday’s AFL mid-season rookie draft.

“With all the experiences he’s had in motorsport and from the US, he’s been great at educating me about to how to deal with all the circumstances that you face, how to keep my head clear when I’m playing footy and how to conduct myself on and off the field.

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“He’s been a long time family friend and a best mate of mine, who I can talk to about anything.’’

Callow will line up for Norwood when it takes on reigning premier Woodville-West Torrens at Woodville Oval on Saturday.

The third versus fourth clash will be live streamed on advertiser.com.au from 2.10pm.

Callow’s family has been close to Ambrose for more than a decade, living just 20 minutes from each other in Launceston.

Ambrose became Jackson’s childhood hero – “I just wanted to be like him,’’ he said – so he took up kart racing.

Callow became a champion junior karter who spent two years on the national circuit before reaching the stage where he had to make a call between karting and football, which he had also shone at.

His size – he now stands at 195cm and 96kg – tipped the scales in football’s favour and he gave carting away at age 16.

“I think I enjoyed footy a bit more, and it did suit my body size,” said Callow, whose dad, Scott, runs a kart shop in Launceston.

Dual V8 Supercars champion Marcos Ambrose has played a major role in guiding Norwood young gun Jackson Callow’s football career.

Scott was an Australian cycling champion while Jackson’s mum, Michelle, was a good runner and dancer.

Ambrose supported Callow’s junior karting career and still acts as a mentor for him, despite the pair being based in different states following Callow’s move to the SANFL to join Norwood this season as he chases his AFL dream.

Callow, who played for North Launceston last year, trained with Hawthorn over summer in the hope of being picked up in the pre-season supplemental draft.

After being overlooked, he has enhanced his draft prospects with a series of strong performances for the Redlegs, where his style has been compared to West Coast premiership key forward Jack Darling.

Callow was coy on his draft prospect’s – “I’ll see what happens on Wednesday,’’ he said – but he is almost certain to find an AFL home.

“I want to make a career out of AFL, but at the moment I’m focused on helping the Redlegs win games,’’ he said.

The Eagles v Redlegs encounter will be one of three SANFL fixtures live streamed by The Advertiser this weekend.

Catch the top-of-the-table under-18 clash between Glenelg and West Adelaide from 8.50am, followed by the women’s preliminary final between Norwood and the Bloods from 11am.