Finn Callaghan very quickly became one of the most talked-about players in the AFL earlier this season.

The GWS Giants midfielder has always been touted as a youngster with great potential, but when St Kilda came calling with a deal that could have made him the highest-paid player in AFL history, the footy world suddenly took notice.

But instead of taking the lucrative contract, Callaghan turned it down. While he had his head turned by the deal, in the end, he wanted to remain a Giant. His early form in 2025 suggests it might be the making of him.

After spending nearly two hours with the budding superstar, it’s easy to see why he wanted to stay. In an extensive chat, the 21-year-old reflects on his perfect Sydney lifestyle, the desire to bring an inaugural premiership to GWS, and most importantly, why there’s “lots more to life than money”.

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NOT ALL ABOUT THE MONEY

As Callaghan walks down the Bondi Beach promenade, he may as well be just another punter taking in one of Australia’s most famous landmarks.

Standing at 192cm, the Giants star certainly rises above most. But apart from the occasional familiar face he sees at the outdoor gym, the anonymity he’s afforded brings a smile to his face.

“No one has any idea around here, which is great,” he said.

“It’s just a really friendly place. People come up for a chat, but it’s never really about football, which I love.”

Living in North Bondi has its perks. While he’s only recently become a coffee drinker, the attraction of a morning dip or surf at the beach on a day off is too good to pass up.

It’s so good that it’s a major part of the reason why he recently signed a deal to stay at the Giants until the end of 2029.

The four-year contract extension will still see Callaghan become one of the best-paid players at GWS, expected to earn around $1 million a season. But it’s a far cry from the $18 million over 10 years believed to have been offered to him by St Kilda to return to Victoria.

For many, that would have been a hard deal to turn down. But despite being young in age, Callaghan is crystal clear about what he wants to achieve in life. He wants to win premierships and to enjoy himself. He believes he can do that best by remaining in Sydney.

“I think there’s lots more to life than money,” Callaghan said.

“I don’t really care too much about what other people think as well. It’s my decision I’ve made. I’m really comfortable with that. The lifestyle, good friends up here and being part of a good football club is what makes me pretty content with the decision.

“I feel like I can play my best footy up here and continue to develop. And ultimately, I feel like the chance of success, well, it could be fairly high at the Giants. And I really wanted to stay and be a part of that.”

ALMOST OVER BEFORE IT BEGAN

Footy always loomed as the career most likely for Callaghan.

He came through the St. Bede’s College system and starred for the Sandringham Dragons. His form then grabbed the attention of AFL recruiters in an elite draft class that included the likes of Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy.

The Giants jumped at the opportunity to get the midfielder into their side with the number three pick in 2021, however, a lingering foot injury slammed the brakes on his career almost immediately.

“The first year was really tough, probably the first two years with my body,” Callaghan said.

“I came to the club with a stress fracture in my right foot which made things really difficult early days. I just wasn’t able to play too much footy in the first year.

“(I had) lots of setbacks in rehab, but I feel like that taught me a lot of resilience and to never take it for granted.

“I was lucky in that first year in rehab to have some good mentors like Jack Buckley and Phil Davis. Great people to watch and learn from, that set me up.”

After playing only five matches in his first season, Callaghan left no stone unturned in his quest to improve. That included sessions with the Australian Ballet in Melbourne to specifically work on his lower body strength.

But the key thing afforded to Callaghan was time. Despite being a top-three draft pick, there was never pressure on the youngster to have an immediate impact.

And after seeing glimpses of his talent throughout the past two years, he has started 2025 with a bang, starring in wins against Collingwood and Melbourne.

“Kingers came to the club in my second year and made a massive difference to myself and my career,” Callaghan said. “I played a few games in the second year … and let my body adapt to the rigours, and my foot, because I was still playing through a fair bit of pain.

“I’ve played about 50 games now, so I feel like I’m starting to play better footy and contribute to the team and help us win. I’ve also been able to have a full pre-season … to train fully makes a huge difference.

“I certainly feel like I’m at home. Settled is the word, I’m more familiar with my surroundings.”

PREMIERSHIP DREAMS

When he isn’t “Giants star Finn Callaghan”, the fourth-year player lives a fairly typical life. If he’s not out surfing, he might pop into his local cafe, The Depot, for a latte, breakfast smoothie or their famous steak night on a Thursday.

But even from short interactions with Callaghan, it’s easy to see how switched on he is. It’s why his next venture is bringing fans behind the scenes and joining the YouTube world.

“I’m starting to do a bit more on social media,” he said.

“Fans love that sort of access. There are a few players up here like Kalyn Ponga, Joseph Suaalii, that do some cool videos. I remember thinking that’s cool and no one really in the AFL apart from Jeremy Cameron does that. There’s a gap in the market there.”

But it’s all secondary to the main thing he wants to bring to the fans, particularly the growing contingent of them in Western Sydney: a premiership.

The Giants have tasted plenty of success in recent years with regular finals appearances, but they’ve never been able to break through for that inaugural flag. It’s left a burning desire for the entire playing group, something that Callaghan feels strongly.

“I think that’s all of our goal, to win the first flag for the club,” he said. “To be part of the first flag for the Giants, I don’t think anything could beat that, to be honest.

“Lots of the boys have really bought in, and hopefully that continues. What would that bring to the fans of Western Sydney? It’d be unbelievable. It would just continue to help grow the game.

“We’re really connected to our fans here, and I feel like (growth) is happening. More people are starting to know the game of AFL up here, and you’ve got to remember we are in the NRL heartland. AFL is foreign for a lot of people, but I feel that tide is starting to shift.

The pressure on the Giants, and particularly Callaghan, over the next five years will be enormous.

Their squad is stacked with talent, and many believe that if they don’t win a premiership with this group, it will be a case of unfulfilled potential. GWS has also invested massively in Callaghan because they believe with him in the side, it will give them the best chance of getting that elusive flag.

But with a cheeky grin on his face as he prepares to dive into the waves at Bondi, that sense of expectation looks like it’s water off a Giant’s back.

“I feel like there’s always pressure with performance, no matter what level you’re at or what contract you’re on,” he said.

“If I just continue to develop, try my hardest on the weekend, whatever happens outside of that happens. I can’t really control it. I want to continue to get better and try to help us win.”