Callinan hang up the boots after a stellar 17 seasons

AFTER a career littered with highlights, little master Ian Callinan can finally sit back and appreciate his achievements.

TSL: Semi-Final, Clarence vs. Launceston, Blundstone Arena: Clarence's Ian Callinan looks to hand ball Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

AFTER a career littered with highlights, little master Ian Callinan can finally sit back and appreciate his achievements.

Callinan, 34, announced he was hanging up the boots after Clarence’s first semi-final loss to Launceston at Blundstone Arena on Saturday and it came as a surprise because the man affectionately known as “wingnut” looked to have at least another season to give.

Callinan’s amazing football adventure includes playing AFL with the Adelaide Crows and if his former teammates make it to the grand final in three weeks he would love to be there to cheer them on.

“I played with at least half of this current group, easy, I’m still great mates with Tex [Walker] — he’s a legend, one of my best mates over there,” Callinan said.

“Sammy Jacobs, Daniel Talia, the Crouch brothers — they’re stars. Terrific blokes.

“I’ve barracked for Geelong my whole life — I’m pretty good mates with ‘Danger’ [Patrick Dangerfield] as well — but I really hope the Crows get in there because I wouldn’t mind going over.”

Callinan played for Rokeby juniors until under-14s.

“Then I had to go to Lauderdale for a year because they had under-15s,” he said.

“I used to play under-18s at Clarence on the Saturday and then I’d play under-15s at Lauderdale on the Sunday.

“Mick Callinan, the great “Animal”, was my first coach at Clarence. He was a star. And hard.

“I played in two under-18 premierships at Clarence and I played in the senior Statewide League premiership in 2000 — the first one they played at York Park. I was 17 then.”

From 2001 to 2008 Callinan played for the now defunct Tasmanian Devils VFL team, and it quickly became clear he was one of the best players in the competition.

That was validated when he won the JJ Liston Medal as the VFL best-and-fairest player in 2005.

“I can look back now I’m retired at those sorts of things, but along the way you probably don’t take much notice what it’s all about,” he said.

“You play to win premierships, but it was a great thrill to win the medal along the way

“I played with some great players and playing finals was special.

“I played 100 VFL games and the thing I remember most is the blokes I played with and I’m still great mates with them today.”

In 2007, Callinan went to Adelaide.

“I just needed a change,” he said. “It wasn’t just about my footy. It was a great opportunity for Lauren my wife to move away for work.

“We thought we’d roll the dice.

Central District v Adelaide at Elizabeth Oval in 2015. Photo Tom Huntley

“We didn’t know how long it was going to go for, but it ended up being for 10 years.”

Six of those years were with Central District, where he was captain, a best-and-fairest winner and a four-time premiership player.

“They’re a fantastic footy club and a great bunch of guys,” Callinan said.

“We won four [premierships] in a row going for five and we got beaten by three points.” Callinan was drafted from Centrals by the Adelaide Crows in 2011 as a rookie and made his AFL debut in Round 14 against Geelong aged 28,

“It was an unbelievable feeling when I got drafted,” he said.

“I didn’t think it was going to happen.

“It wasn’t the reason I went to South Australia.

“It’s every kid’s dream to play just one game so to end up punching out 32 — I was 28 when I got picked up — so it was a bit surreal.

“It’s something that I will always remember and be indebted to Neil Craig for giving me the opportunity.

“It was great to have a crack at it.

“It would have been better if it had happened early but it didn’t but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

In 2014 Callinan became inaugural captain of the Adelaide Crows SANFL team and in both seasons there won the club’s best-and-fairest before heading home to Clarence for the past two years.

There is one essential Callinan takes away from football.

“I won five premierships but for me footy is all about your mates,” he said.

“My best friends are the blokes I’ve played footy with. I’ve got lifelong friends that I will see for the next 50 years.

“I will forever be indebted to football for that.”

Crows Captains Run on Adelaide Oval. Patrick Dangerfield, Ian Callinan and Rory Sloane. PIC SARAH REED.