Emerging GIANTS midfielder Finn Callaghan will put family ties and childhood heroes aside this weekend as the Orange Tsunami looks to create history in what’s sure to be another fiery clash with the Western Bulldogs.

After sitting at 4-8 at the conclusion of round 12, the GIANTS have since taken all before them to sit inside the top eight for the first time since round one on the back of an equal club-record six straight wins.

The GIANTS can now create history with the club’s first ever seven-game winning streak up for grabs against the fifth-placed ‘Dogs at Ballarat’s Mars Stadium.

Promising second-year midfielder Callaghan will enter Saturday’s clash with added motivation after not only growing up a Bulldogs fan, but also due to a family connection with the opposition, with Callaghan’s mum the first cousin of the Bulldogs’ coach Luke Beveridge.

Callaghan admitted there would be a lot on the line come Saturday.

“It’s always a big game against the Bulldogs, it’s similar to the Swans, it [intensity] goes up against them, but it’s something we embrace and look forward to,” Callaghan said.

“Being a Bulldogs fan when I was younger, whenever the Bulldogs played the GIANTS, it was a big game and there was always lots of aggression. This week is just another game, but I’m sure there’ll be a little bit of extra spice involved being a big game for both clubs. I’m excited for it.”

While he’ll be doing his best to be a thorn in his opposing coach’s plans on Saturday, Callaghan revealed Beveridge had been a sounding board for advice throughout his football journey.

“Certainly, when I was younger, whenever I saw Luke I would chat about football,” he said.

“I tried not to ask him too many questions because I’m sure everyone always asked him, but if there was any advice needed, I would ask him. He’s always been really good to me and if I ever needed anything he’s always been happy to help out and I really appreciate that.

“I [still] get the odd text here and there just to see how I’m going, but of course he’s pretty busy with his own club so I’m sure he’s not worrying about me too much,” Callaghan laughed.

After a foot injury limited his debut season to just five games, Callaghan has shown this year exactly why the GIANTS took him at pick three in the 2021 draft - and why they locked him up until the end of 2025 earlier this year.

Combining time on the wing with a new role as an inside midfielder, Callaghan has blossomed under new coach Adam Kingsley in his second season, averaging 21.2 disposals across 17 games to establish himself as one of the competition’s brightest young stars.

The 20-year-old, who was rewarded with an AFL Rising Star award nomination in round seven, said he was loving being able to contribute to the GIANTS’ current success.

“I’m just really happy to be back playing footy again,” he said.

“It’s been a tough few years with COVID and injury and I haven’t really played many games at all and so to be back this year and finding some continuity is really pleasing.

“I started the season off pretty well and I was happy, but it’s just been about continuing to play my role and building form.

“I’ve sort of been lucky the last six weeks with the team going really well and so I’m happy to be contributing to that and hopefully we can keep going until the end of the year.”

The smooth-moving left footer said it was all smiles at GIANTS HQ as the club looked to continue its sizzling form.

“It’s really positive. We’re on a six-game winning streak so we are bringing some really good momentum and everyone is really excited with the form we are in,” he said.

“There’s lots of smiles walking into the club each day so it’s a really positive feeling and everyone is up and about.

“Obviously it’s a big game against the Bulldogs so it’s about getting a good week of prep in but also continuing to ride the wave of momentum that we are building and taking that into the game on the weekend.”

The GIANTS and the Bulldogs will face-off at 1:45pm on Saturday afternoon in Ballarat.