southerncross
15-10-2007, 06:41 AM
Cat-turned-Dog hopes to add bite to midfield (http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/callan-hopes-to-add-bite-to-midfield/2007/10/14/1192300597207.html)
NEW Bulldog Tim Callan hopes to bolster the side's midfield after being off-loaded during last week's great Geelong giveaway, which also sent Steven King, Charlie Gardiner and Henry Playfair to new clubs.
Callan played just 15 senior games in five seasons with the Cats but was a vital cog in the club's 2007 VFL premiership win, picking up the best-and-fairest award.
Geelong's abundance of playing riches pushed him to ask to be traded, a request that fitted in with Geelong's desire to ease the pressure on its salary cap, and ultimately led to the trading of four players for low draft picks.
"I said if there was an opportunity somewhere, I'd be interested in taking it, just purely for opportunity's sake," Callan, 23, said.
"I've had a great five years there and I wouldn't change a thing. But I really just want to prove to myself that I can play AFL football, and I think that's going to have to be at another club."
Traded to the Western Bulldogs along with draft pick 66 in exchange for pick 62, Callan is keen to play a tagging role in the midfield, an area where the Bulldogs are ripe for improvement.
He will be joined in the middle by new ruckman Ben Hudson, with the former Crow bolstering the Bulldogs' ruck division after the retirement of club stalwart Luke Darcy.
Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade, who has yet to meet Callan since the trade, said the club was impressed with his speed and versatility.
"He's got an ability to play small down back, with good pace and he also can play in a run-with role in the midfield," Eade said.
Callan said he was looking forward to playing alongside Daniel Giansiracusa and Lindsay Gilbee in the Dogs' midfield.
"I think they've got a really talented young list," Callan said.
NEW Bulldog Tim Callan hopes to bolster the side's midfield after being off-loaded during last week's great Geelong giveaway, which also sent Steven King, Charlie Gardiner and Henry Playfair to new clubs.
Callan played just 15 senior games in five seasons with the Cats but was a vital cog in the club's 2007 VFL premiership win, picking up the best-and-fairest award.
Geelong's abundance of playing riches pushed him to ask to be traded, a request that fitted in with Geelong's desire to ease the pressure on its salary cap, and ultimately led to the trading of four players for low draft picks.
"I said if there was an opportunity somewhere, I'd be interested in taking it, just purely for opportunity's sake," Callan, 23, said.
"I've had a great five years there and I wouldn't change a thing. But I really just want to prove to myself that I can play AFL football, and I think that's going to have to be at another club."
Traded to the Western Bulldogs along with draft pick 66 in exchange for pick 62, Callan is keen to play a tagging role in the midfield, an area where the Bulldogs are ripe for improvement.
He will be joined in the middle by new ruckman Ben Hudson, with the former Crow bolstering the Bulldogs' ruck division after the retirement of club stalwart Luke Darcy.
Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade, who has yet to meet Callan since the trade, said the club was impressed with his speed and versatility.
"He's got an ability to play small down back, with good pace and he also can play in a run-with role in the midfield," Eade said.
Callan said he was looking forward to playing alongside Daniel Giansiracusa and Lindsay Gilbee in the Dogs' midfield.
"I think they've got a really talented young list," Callan said.