Hawthorn are taking a close look at promising 18-year-old forward Jackson Callow.
The North Launceston key forward is set to play the 2021 season in the SANFL with Norwood under new coach Jade Rawlings, but will attempt to win a spot on the Hawks’ list first.
Callow grew up a Melbourne supporter but the Launceston presence saw him follow the brown and gold in recent years, and a connection with fellow Tasmanian and former Hawk Rawlings opened the door for a crack at the AFL after being overlooked in the draft.
The 195cm, 98kg teenager, who is shacking up with James Worpel, explained how the opportunity came about and what he plans to get out of the trial.
“Last week when I was finishing training I got a call from (National Recruiting Manager) Mark McKenzie and he basically just invited me to come in and do a two-to-four-week trial at Hawthorn as there’s a spot that’s opened up,” Callow told SEN Breakfast.
“Straight away I said I’d love to. I spoke to the club that night and Jade and the whole staff at Norwood were right behind me to go and do this and see what happens. If not, there was always going to be another spot for me to come back and play at Norwood.
“I’d not even been there four weeks and now I’m in Victoria.
“I actually had a job interview the day I left so I had settled in. I had a home I was living at and everything was starting to run pretty smoothly and then another big change-up, but I was not too fussed because I got an opportunity here at Hawthorn.”
Callow played under-18s footy with the Tasmanian Devils and in the Tasmanian State League (TSL) with the Bombers before he set his sights on the SANFL and now even higher.
“Playing in the NAB League was a bit different and playing down at home in the TSL, I just wanted to better myself again and show I can compete in the best competition,” he added.
“I thought the SANFL was the best way to do that. Straight away I had a close relationship with Jade before I got there and it worked out to be a good deal.”
A text message read out by Garry Lyon suggested Callow had a ‘bit of Jonnno Brown’ about him which the youngster was chuffed with.
“Ooh, maybe, I’m not too sure. I do like to compete and I’m a big boy, but yeah, I’ll take that,” he laughed.
Callow, who admits he’s only said ‘G’day’ to coach Alastair Clarkson, played on Hawks recruit Kyle Hartigan in a recent practice match as he strives to make an impression at Waverley.
“I’ve got two weeks to start with and we’ll review it at the end and see how I’m travelling and how my body’s feeling, and hopefully I get another two weeks,” he said further.
“The end of the month is when they’ll make a decision on whether I head back to Adelaide or might bet lucky enough to stay here with them.
“I couldn’t believe it. It definitely wasn’t something I was expecting to happen and I jumped at the opportunity when it was there.”
Callow has had a previous training stint with North Melbourne in 2018 while part of the NAB AFL Academy.