Ian Callinan (Australian footballer)
Encyclopedia
Ian Callinan is a professional Australian rules football
er in the Australian Football League
. One of the league's smallest players, Callinan stands at only 172 cm. He has played as both a midfielder and a small forward during his career.
as an Under-16 and Clarence
as an Under-18. He regularly represented Tasmania in junior representative football, most notably in the AFL National Under-18s championships in 2000, where he won the Hunter-Harrison Medal as the tournament's Division 2 best and fairest
, and was selected in the Under-18 All-Australian team as a forward pocket. He nominated for 2000 AFL Draft, but was not selected.
in the Victorian Football League
. He became one of the stars of the league, and in 2005 he won the J. J. Liston Trophy
(in a tie with Paul Johnson
of Sandringham) as the league's best and fairest
, as well as the club best and fairest
. He played more than 100 games with the Devils between 2001 and 2006.
In 2007, Callinan moved to Central District in the SANFL. In four seasons on Centrals primary list, he won four premierships (2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010), including the Jack Oatey Medal as best on ground in the Grand Final in 2010, and two club best and fairest
awards (2007, 2010). He was also Centrals leading goalkicker in 2007 and 2010.
as a rookie by the Adelaide Football Club, with a fourth round draft pick in the 2011 AFL rookie draft (No. 64 overall). He had undergone pre-season training with at least four different AFL clubs during his career, but this was the first time he was recruited. After a biceps injury in a pre-season match sidelined him for half of the season, he made his AFL debut at age 28 in Round 14, 2011, against , and played a total of three AFL matches for the season. He continued to play for Centrals when on reserve for Adelaide.
. Callinan is married to Lauren (née James), daughter of former All-Australian
Sandy Bay
footballer Des James
. The couple has a son, Jack.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. One of the league's smallest players, Callinan stands at only 172 cm. He has played as both a midfielder and a small forward during his career.
Junior
Callinan played his junior football in Tasmania, initially at the Rokeby, before joining LauderdaleLauderdale Football Club
Lauderdale Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in the Hobart, beachside suburb of Lauderdale.-History:The Lauderdale Football Club was formed in 1948 and were known as the Lauderdale Cats until 2004 when Australian Football League team Essendon Bombers aligned with Lauderdale,...
as an Under-16 and Clarence
Clarence Football Club
The Clarence Football Club, nicknamed the Kangaroos , is an Australian rules football club playing in the Tasmanian State League, based in Bellerive, Tasmania.Before 1903, they existed as Bellerive Football Club....
as an Under-18. He regularly represented Tasmania in junior representative football, most notably in the AFL National Under-18s championships in 2000, where he won the Hunter-Harrison Medal as the tournament's Division 2 best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
, and was selected in the Under-18 All-Australian team as a forward pocket. He nominated for 2000 AFL Draft, but was not selected.
State level
Callinan was recruited to play for the new Tasmanian Devils Football ClubTasmanian Devils Football Club
Tasmania Football Club, nicknamed The Devils, was an Australian rules football club which competed in the Victorian Football League in Australia. Formed in 2001, it was the youngest and the only non-Victorian club in the league. The club was based in the state of Tasmania at Bellerive Oval and was...
in the Victorian Football League
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
. He became one of the stars of the league, and in 2005 he won the J. J. Liston Trophy
J. J. Liston Trophy
The J. J. Liston Trophy is awarded to the best and fairest senior player in the Victorian Football League .-History:The VFA awarded the Recorder Cup from 1923 to 1941, and also ran a different award known as the VFA Medal .After a hiatus in 1942 to 1944 due to World War II, a best and fairest award...
(in a tie with Paul Johnson
Paul A. Johnson
Paul Johnson is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League .He was drafted by West Coast at number 24 in the 2002 AFL Draft, but played only one game in two seasons with the Eagles....
of Sandringham) as the league's best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
, as well as the club best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
. He played more than 100 games with the Devils between 2001 and 2006.
In 2007, Callinan moved to Central District in the SANFL. In four seasons on Centrals primary list, he won four premierships (2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010), including the Jack Oatey Medal as best on ground in the Grand Final in 2010, and two club best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
awards (2007, 2010). He was also Centrals leading goalkicker in 2007 and 2010.
Professional career
In 2011, Callinan was recruited to the AFLAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
as a rookie by the Adelaide Football Club, with a fourth round draft pick in the 2011 AFL rookie draft (No. 64 overall). He had undergone pre-season training with at least four different AFL clubs during his career, but this was the first time he was recruited. After a biceps injury in a pre-season match sidelined him for half of the season, he made his AFL debut at age 28 in Round 14, 2011, against , and played a total of three AFL matches for the season. He continued to play for Centrals when on reserve for Adelaide.
Personal life
Before playing football professionally, Callinan earned his living as a scaffolderScaffolding
Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support people and material in the construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. It is usually a modular system of metal pipes or tubes, although it can be from other materials...
. Callinan is married to Lauren (née James), daughter of former All-Australian
All-Australian Team
The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
Sandy Bay
Sandy Bay Football Club
The Sandy Bay Football Club was an Australian rules football club based in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia that participated in the Tasmanian Football League from 1945 to 1997.-Club History:...
footballer Des James
Des James
Des James is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Sandy Bay in the Tasmanian Football League .James, a back pocket, is noted his performances at the 1979 Perth State of Origin Carnival, which earned him a spot in the All-Australian team. An Indigenous player, he was inducted into the...
. The couple has a son, Jack.