Craig Callaghan
{{short description|Australian rules footballer, born 1976}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Craig Callaghan
| image =
| fullname = Craig William Callaghan
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|3|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = Perth, Western Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = Swan Districts (WAFL)
| debutdate = Round 8, 20 May 1995
| debutteam = Fremantle.
| debutopponent = Collingwood.
| debutstadium = Victoria Park
| height =
| weight =
| position =
| statsend = 2004
| years1 = 1995–2000
| club1 = Fremantle
| games_goals1 = {{0}}95 (69)
| years2 = 2001–2004
| club2 = St Kilda
| games_goals2 = {{0}}29 (25)
| games_goalstotal = 124 (94)
| careerhighlights = *2× AFL Rising Star nominee: 1995, 1996
Swan Districts Best & Fairest award 1994
}}
Craig William Callaghan (born 9 March 1976) is an Australian rules footballer who played for Fremantle and St Kilda in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played as a midfielder and forward pocket and began his football career at Swan Districts and won the Swan Medal for the fairest and best at the club in 1994.
Fremantle Dockers
After winning the 1994 Swan Districts Best & Fairest award, Gerard Neesham saw him as a natural selection for Fremantle's inaugural squad for the 1995 AFL season. Neesham was right as Callaghan became a star in his 5 years at the club, being nominated for the AFL Rising Star award in both 1995 and 1996 and finishing in the top 5 players of Fremantle's best and fairest award three years in a row between 1996 and 1998.[http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/year%20by%20year/tabid/13460/default.aspx Year By Year Honour List]
St Kilda
In 2000 the Dockers traded Callaghan to St Kilda in exchange for Matthew Carr. Callaghan's time at the Saints was marred by injury, spending two of his four years sidelined by knee injuries.Ryan, Melissa & Johnson, Len (24 February 2004) [http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/02/23/1077497513543.html Knee injury threatens Saint's career] So in 2004 after only 29 games for St Kilda he decided to retire from AFL football.[https://archive.today/20120723021515/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2004/10/18/1222451.htm Cats delist Spriggs and Foster] (18 Oct 2004)
Swan Districts
Callaghan returned to Western Australia to again play in the WAFL for the Swan Districts. He announced his retirement on 22 July 2006, due to another knee injury.Harrison, Paul (27 July 2006) [http://www.footygoss.com/index.php/main/club_news/swan_districts/view/swan_districts_lose_callaghan_to_retirement/ Swan Districts lose Callaghan to retirement]
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{AFL Tables}}
- {{AustralianFootball}}
- {{WAFL FootyFacts}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080726115533/http://www.waflonline.com.au/players/player.php?playerID=1148 WAFL Player Profile]
{{1995 AFL Rising Star nominees}}
{{1996 AFL Rising Star nominees}}
{{2003 AFL national draft}}
{{1997 Western Australia State of Origin players}}
{{1998 Western Australia State of Origin players}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Callaghan, Craig}}
Category:Australian rules footballers from Western Australia
Category:Fremantle Football Club players
Category:St Kilda Football Club players