Ian Callinan has powered back from a stroke that shocked his family

Former Adelaide Crows ace and footy favourite Ian Callinan has opened up about his narrow escape from a stroke, aged only 37, and an extraordinary comeback. Read the interview >>

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IF THERE was one thing football whiz Ian Callinan takes away from his stroke aged 37 last year, it is to love life.

Unbeknown to him, the former Clarence, Tassie Devils, Central Districts and Adelaide Crows ace – affectionately known as “Wingnut” in reference to his ears – had a hole in his heart.

He had a stroke in his sleep, but didn’t even know that.

Ian Callinan former Adelaide Crows footballer and now coach of OHA has made a remarkable recovery from a stroke last year. Callinan is only 37 years old. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

When he woke, he wondered why there was ringing in his ears, why his eye-hand co-ordination was shot, and why he had no control of his right arm and leg.

“I went to the loo and when I came out and my wife Lauren wife asked me if I was okay because I was holding my arm,” Callinan said.

He vomited, and reached for a tissue.

“I couldn’t grab it. They were right in front of me but I was grabbing at air,” he said.

There were warning signs.

Six weeks earlier he had a blackout at work, and several other “episodes”.

Tests on his heart and brain, and CT scans, did not reveal the cause.

On September 3, it all went wrong.

Callinan was rushed to hospital where MRI scans showed doctors a blockage stopping the blood flow to his brain.

It could have been fatal.

AFL – Adelaide Crows v Melbourne, AAMI Stadium. Ian Callinan gets tackled by Dean Terlich. Picture: SARAH REED

“It was one of those things that could have gone either way, lucky for me, mine went the right way,” he said.

Now his message is simple.

“If there’s something you want to do, I’d say to people go and do it because you never know.”

Callinan is a premiership player for Clarence, racked up 109 VFL games for the Devils, won the VFL best-and-fairest medal, played 95 games and four consecutive SANFL premiership for Centrals and was club champion twice, and 32 games for Adelaide Crows and 49 goals.

The stroke cost him a place in OHA’s premiership team in the Old Scholars last year.

Only this week, Callinan returned to work part-time as an installer at Parmic Fire Protection and is thriving as the Ships’ new senior coach.

Callinan is grateful of his career – and even more grateful for his speedy recovery. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“I don’t really miss playing cause I’ve had a good career,” he said.

“I was only playing because I love the game.

“I enjoy the camaraderie and it’s good playing at amateur level cause it’s serious enough that everyone cares and they want to win but it’s not in-your-face.

“That’s the bit I love and that’s why I took on the coaching role to stay involved and help out the young blokes.”

Originally published as Ian Callinan has powered back from a stroke that shocked his family