Number three draft pick Finn Callaghan will make his AFL debut when the GIANTS face the Demons at the MCG this Saturday.

A left-footed midfielder and wingman, Callaghan was the GIANTS’ first pick in last year’s draft and with natural talent and athleticism, was widely regarded as one of the best prospects in the draft.  

He had a slow start to his 2022 pre-season, but after several impressive weeks in the VFL, the 192cm 18-year-old is now ready to take his game to the top level.  

Callaghan learned of his debut at a team meeting on Wednesday afternoon with GIANTS co-captain Josh Kelly delivering the news.  
 
“I’m full of excitement at the moment,” Callaghan said after finding out the news.  
 
“It’s an absolute dream come true, especially to play on the MCG for my first game – I can’t wait for it; it’s going to be so much fun. 
 
“I knew this week or next week I might be getting close, but no one had said anything, so I had no inklings and it caught me off guard a little bit which was even better.” 
 
Callaghan arrived in Sydney in December but after a niggling foot injury in 2021, he spent the early part of his time at the club rehabbing before he could get out on the park.  

“Yeah, it was a little bit difficult at the start,” Callahan said.  
 
“Obviously the first thing you want to do when you get to a new club is to be out there and training and show everyone why they selected you, but I think as soon as soon as you start being able to play you forget about that and I’ve really been enjoying my footy playing in the VFL.   
 
“All of my teammates are great, and they’ve helped to make it such an easy transition for me to play well and get some form over the last few weeks.  

“Guys like Josh, Cogs (Stephen Coniglio), Phil Davis – they’re all very well respected around the club and have been here for years so they’ve got such great knowledge.  
 
“Especially at the start when things were taking a little bit longer for me, they were just some cool heads telling me that everything would be fine in the long run, so I was really lucky to have them helping me along the way.” 
 
The full team for Saturday’s clash with the Dees will be named at 6:20pm on Thursday. 

Saturday’s match will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally and on 7mate in NSW and the ACT from 7pm. The match will also be shown via the AFL Live app with a subscription purchase.