Jackson Callow insists the focus on his current club will not shift amidst mid-season draft chatter.
The Norwood forward is in fine form at SANFL level where he leads the league for contested marks and has kicked 11 goals from seven matches.
Callow, who turns 19 next month, is reportedly attracting interest from Collingwood ahead of next week’s rookie draft, but says he is only concerned with the Redlegs as he prepares for Saturday’s clash with reigning premiers Woodville-West Torrens.
“I’ve tried to ignore it a little bit and just focus on this weekend but the draft is coming up and the clubs have to get their priorities straight in everything they want to do,” Callow said on SEN SA’s Redlegs Radio.
“I’ve had to deal with a couple of things like that, but at the moment I’m just fully focused on the weekend.
“Obviously this mid-season draft is coming up and I’m unsure what’s going to happen. I’d be over the moon if I got picked, but if not then it doesn’t change a single thing.
“I’m here as a Redlegs player and that’s what I want to be at the moment, and try and play the rest of the year out here.”
The North Launceston product, who booted 3.7, took 11 marks and had 24 disposals against the Crows in the SANFL last weekend, has been enjoying his education under ex-Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne forward Jade Rawlings at Coopers Stadium.
Callow says former Richmond coach Rawlings has already handed him some important lessons.
“Part of my goal was to come over here to try and better myself as a person and as a footy player,” he added.
“I’ve been working with Jade really closely. My goal was to come over and play a full season with the Redlegs and try and learn as much as I can, then go from there.
“One of the biggest things I had to work on was my body craft when with the bigger defenders.
“I watched some footage of ‘Twig’ when he used to play then did some training with him. When he demonstrates something he goes full pelt so if you get a little blood nose it’s not unexpected.
“He likes to show you properly. That’s the best part about ‘Twig’, he does everything at 100 percent.”
If successful in the draft, the former Hawks trainee will be the next SANFL talent to make the move to the AFL, following the likes of John Noble and Will Snelling who have both kicked on at Collingwood and Essendon respectively.
Callow insists that is part and parcel of playing in such a strong state league.
“The reason I wanted to come to the SANFL was because it is probably the best league outside the AFL,” he said further.
“I thought coming here and trying to get a senior game was my first goal and lucky enough I’ve played every round, but to come here and play in the best league outside the AFL, I think it’s expected a few players are going to start heading off from the SANFL to the AFL.”
He further reiterated his stance on the mid-season draft and what happens if he is overlooked.
“If I get picked up it’s a bonus. I suppose I’ll get to go and live my dream a bit earlier than I expected to,” he added.
“Of course I’d love to do it, but if I don’t get picked up then nothing changes. I’m just loving it where I am at the moment and just going to keep it going.”
Callow has helped the Redlegs to a 5-2 record, returning seven goals in their run of three straight wins.
Image courtesy Norwood Redlegs FC.