Finn Callaghan’s colleagues lift lid on why he could be one of AFL’s best

It was the Opening Round performance that had the AFL world talking. Finn Callaghan’s teammates and coach lift the lid on how the gun Giant’s breakout game came about — and what’s next.

Taken with pick number three of the 2021 AFL draft, Finn Callaghan has long been destined for greatness.

The Sandringham product quickly earned a reputation throughout his junior footy days as an elite ball distributor with a fantastic footy IQ, which helped him rocket up draft boards across the country.

The Giants pounced at the first opportunity with the third pick – which they only held because Collingwood traded it away in preparation for matching a bid on Nick Daicos.

Across his first three years in the AFL, Callaghan showed glimpses of his talent. He regularly racked up disposals and always found a way to bring his teammates into games.

But it was only appropriate that his true breakout game came against the Pies on Sunday afternoon, a team he could have been playing for if things had turned out differently.

He finished with an incredible stat line of 33 disposals, two goals, 12 score involvements, seven clearances and 726 metres gained. A major highlight was his ability to find space through the corridor and burn his opponents for speed.

For many, it was a coming-of-age performance from Callaghan. For his teammates, they know it’s just a taste of what’s to come.

“I’m not surprised,” Josh Kelly said.

“He’s hungry. He wants to be the best. He’s been impatient from the time he’s been at the club. You’ve always seen that in him. You always knew he was going to get there.

“Today, it was exciting for us. It’s exciting for me as a teammate. I’ve just got to get him the ball now and let him run because there’s no one catching him when he tucks it under and goes for runs like that.”

Callaghan celebrates his second goal of the game. Picture: Phil Hillyard

DEALING WITH THE HEADLINES

The past month has seen Callaghan become one of the most talked-about players in the competition.

Originally off-contract at the end of 2025, the 21-year-old was always expected to garner big offers from rival clubs to try and pry him away from GWS.

However, the reported $17 million deal that St Kilda put on the table for him surpassed those expectations.

He turned down their advances and committed to the Giants for a further four years, but that didn’t subdue suggestions that the Saints’ offer was inflated for a player who was yet to be a consistent game-changer in the AFL.

While it might have only been one match against the Pies in opening round, it showcased that Callaghan is not only capable of taking a game by the scruff of the neck but also that he can ignore the conjecture and let his footy do the talking.

The 21-year-old’s ability to burst past players was a highlight against the Pies. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“We’ve seen glimpses,” Kelly said. “He had some strong performances last year, but to be able to play a game like that, round zero, it’s a pretty complete game and sets himself up for the year.

“On the back of a bit of talk about him in the media, I’m really proud of him. We’ve known what he’s capable of, but to be able to put it together like that, very happy.”

“We see that at training,” Callan Ward added. “No one can catch him when he takes off and takes guys on.

“He’s super, super quick and really smart with his ball use. Any young player up and coming, it’s hard to get that consistency. He’s shown over the past few years that he’s a really good player, but once he finds that consistency, which I thought he had today, I think he’ll be one of the best players in the competition.

“He’s a pleasure to play with, and he’ll have a long career at the Giants. I’ll be long gone before he finishes it up.”

Kelly admits he’s proud of Callaghan for putting together a complete performance amid all the headlines. Picture: Phil Hillyard

THE NEXT BIG GOAL

One of the things that was most pleasing for Adam Kingsley was that Callaghan turned his possessions into scoreboard impact.

Not only did he have 12 score involvements, but he also had two goals from four scoring shots. The best midfielders in the competition hit the scoreboard, and that hasn’t been something Callaghan has always had in his locker.

In his 50 previous games, he had only kicked seven goals. His brace against the Pies was the first time he had kicked more than one goal in an AFL game.

Finn Callaghan is the REAL DEAL ‼️‼️#AFLGiantsPies | @GWSGIANTSpic.twitter.com/2DHicsbgIa

— 7AFL (@7AFL) March 9, 2025

“He hasn’t traditionally been a goal-kicker for us,” Kingsley said. “We certainly encourage him to be hard and tough around the contest.

“His ability to hit the scoreboard is a little bit untapped for us at the moment. So, it was nice for him to feel what that is, and hopefully, he continues to do that.”

It’s a sign that Callaghan is ready to be the Giants’ new midfield leader. And it’s something that will leave them in good stead.

After almost a decade of Kelly, Coniglio and Ward dominating the Giants’ midfield, the centre is now Callaghan and Green’s for the taking. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Josh Kelly, Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio – who are all 30 or older – have carried that midfield burden for some time. While they are still elite in their own right, if Callaghan and Tom Green, 24, can lead the next generation for Kingsley, it provides them with a lot more balance going forward.

“It’s exciting; we’ve got so many different players that can roll through there,” Ward said.

“We’ve got some guys who are waiting in the wings as well, like Harry Rowston and James Leake, who I thought played a good role in his debut.

“So to have those different players with different strengths, I think it’s great for the footy club.”

Originally published as Finn Callaghan’s colleagues lift lid on why he could be one of AFL’s best