Finn Callaghan
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Finn Callaghan
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Finn Callaghan
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|2003|04|26}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = Sandringham Dragons
| draftpick = No. 3, 2021 AFL draft
| height = 192 cm
| weight = 86 kg
| position = Midfielder
| debutdate = Round 5, 2022
| debutteam = {{AFL GWS}}
| debutopponent = {{AFL Mel}}
| debutstadium = MCG
| currentclub = {{AFL GWS}}
| guernsey = 17
| years1 = 2022–
| club1 = {{AFL GWS}}
| games_goals1 = 62 (9)
| statsend = round 15, 2025
| careerhighlights =
}}
Finn Callaghan (born 26 April 2003) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Early career
Callaghan's father Brett was a 400m runner who competed for Australia at the 1994 Commonwealth Games.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-19 |title=Brett Callaghan Results {{!}} Commonwealth Games Australia |url=https://commonwealthgames.com.au/athletes/brett-callaghan/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=commonwealthgames.com.au |language=en-AU}}
He spent his high school years at St Bedes College. He played junior football for [https://mbjfc.net/ Mordialloc-Braeside Junior Football Club].{{Cite web |title=Get to know Finn Callaghan: leader; footy IQ; lockdown diary |url=https://www.sandringhamdragons.com.au/general-news/dragon-tales/finn-callaghan/get-to-know-finn-callaghan-leader-footy-iq-lockdown-diary |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=www.sandringhamdragons.com.au |language=en}} After missing selection in the under-16 Vic Metro side, he had a major growth spurt and added 20 centimetres to his frame. The extra confidence stemming from his height combined with the already developing deadly ball usage created dominant performances early with the Sandringham Dragons, garnering his selection in the Australian Under-18s team.{{Cite web |last=Leonard |first=Owen |date=2021-11-22 |title=The ‘reality check’ that fuelled the dramatic rise of future star Finn Callaghan |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-reality-check-that-fuelled-the-dramatic-rise-of-future-star-finn-callaghan-20211122-p59aze.html |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=The Age |language=en}}
AFL career
Finn Callaghan was selected by the {{AFL GWS}} with pick three in the 2021 AFL draft.{{Cite web |title=Finn Callaghan {{!}} AFL |url=https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/players/5321/finn-callaghan |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=gwsgiants.com.au |language=en}} The Giants were impressed with his penetrating kicking and aerial ability.
He had a slow start to his career, settling in Sydney in December and dealing with a niggling foot injury in 2021, he spent the pre-season doing rehab. Finally fit, he made his debut against {{AFL Mel}} in round 5 at the MCG. His foot troubles persisted and required an unusual solution, including having part of a bone removed from his foot{{Cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/887759/bone-bits-and-ballet-how-young-gws-giant-finn-callaghan-got-back-in-the-dance|title=Bone bits and ballet: How young Giant got back in the dance|website=afl.com.au}}
He signed a two-year contract extension in February 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/1276346/callaghan-extends|title=Callaghan Extends|website=gwsgiants.com.au}}
In 2023 after finding himself playing on the wing, a series of good performances earned Callaghan the round 7 Rising Star nomination.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/917693/giant-reward-gws-wingman-lands-rising-star-nomination|first=Daniela|last=Harvey|date=2 May 2023|title=Giant reward: GWS wingman lands Rising Star nomination|work=AFC.com.au|access-date=3 May 2023}} He had 26 disposals and 10 marks in his teams’ one-point victory over cross-town rivals {{AFL Syd}}. {{Cite web |date=2023-05-01 |title=Callaghan Wins Rising Star Nomination |url=https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/1321253/callaghan-wins-rising-star-nomination |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=gwsgiants.com.au |language=en}} Callaghan then played his first finals series with GWS in 2023 and had an 18 disposal performance against St. Kilda in the 101-77 elimination final win.{{cite web |last1=Garb |first1=Daniel |title=From surgery fears to finals, Giant's wild ride continues |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1031085/from-surgery-fears-to-finals-greater-western-sydney-giant-finn-callaghans-wild-ride-continues |website=AFL.com.au |access-date=14 October 2023 |date=15 September 2023}}
Ahead of the 2025 season, it was reported that {{AFL StK}} had offered Callaghan $17 million AUD over the duration of a 10 year contract to move to the Saints at the end of the season.{{cite web|title=EXCLUSIVE: GWS Giants star Finn Callaghan knocks back biggest offer in AFL history|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/afl/news-2025-finn-callaghan-gws-giants-knocks-back-st-kilda-contract-offer-exclusive-20250223-p5legv.html|publisher=Nine Network|date=23 February 2025}} However, Callaghan rejected the offer and signed a 4 year contract extension with the Giants, days after the report about the St Kilda offer.{{cite web|title=Young Giants mid turns down rival interest, signs new deal|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1271398/young-greater-western-sydney-giants-midfielder-finn-callaghan-turns-down-rival-interest-signs-new-deal|publisher=AFL Media|date=24 February 2025}}{{cite web|title=GWS Giants star Finn Callaghan signs four-year contract extension after rebuffing St Kilda mega deal|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-24/afl-gws-giants-star-finn-callaghan-signs-four-year-extension/104972942|publisher=ABC News (Australia)|date=24 February 2025}}
Statistics
Updated to the end of the 2024 season.{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/F/Finn_Callaghan.html|title=Finn Callaghan's player profile at AFL Tables|website=AFL Tables}}
{{Australian rules football statistics legend}}
{{AFL player statistics start with votes}}
|-
| 2022 || {{AFL GWS}} || 17
| | 5 || 2 || 0 || 41 || 34 || 75 || 18 || 5 || 0.0 || .2 || 8.2 || 6.8 || 15.0 || 3.6 || 1.0 || 0
|-
| 2023 || {{AFL GWS}} || 17
| | 21 || 3 || 3 || 208 || 228 || 436 || 97 || 42 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 9.9 || 10.9 || 20.8 || 4.6 || 2.0 || 0
|-
| 2024 || {{AFL GWS}} || 17
| | 24 || 2 || 7 || 224 || 326 || 550 || 66|| 86 || 0.1 || 0.3 || 9.3 || 13.6 || 22.9 || 2.8 || 3.6 || 6
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=3| Career
! 50 !! 7 !! 10 !! 473 !! 588 !! 1061 !! 181 !! 133 !! 0.1 !! 0.2 !! 9.5 !! 11.8 !! 21.2 !! 3.6 !! 2.7 !! 6
|}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{GWSplayer}}
- {{AFL Tables}}
- {{AustralianFootball}}
{{Greater Western Sydney player squad}}
{{2023 AFL Rising Star nominees}}
{{2021 AFL national draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Callaghan, Finn}}
Category:Greater Western Sydney Giants players
Category:Sandringham Dragons players