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2026 AFL National Draft
Jake Callinan: 2026 AFL Draft profile
Tall Midfield Chameleon
2026 NATIONAL DRAFTTop 60 · EDITORIAL RANGEQLD
- Position
- Midfielder/Forward
- Listed height
- 190 cm
- Club / region
- Gold Coast Suns Academy
- Projected range
- Top 60 (editorial)
Jake Callinan scouting report
Jake Callinan is the 2026 draft’s "tall midfield chameleon." Standing an imposing 190cm, the Gold Coast Suns Academy product—and son of former Adelaide Crows forward Ian Callinan—possesses a drastically different physical profile than his father, but has inherited every bit of the signature family footy IQ. Callinan is a beautifully balanced modern prototype: a big-bodied midfielder who floats forward with lethal effect. He proved his class during a recent Talent League matchup against the Tasmania Devils, tearing open the fourth quarter to finish with 21 disposals, 4 tackles, and 2 classy goals. Renowned for being equal parts nimble and exceptionally clean at ground level, Callinan does his most damaging work just outside the immediate stoppage, navigating dense traffic with the composure of a much smaller utility.
AFL player comparison
Marcus Bontempelli
A stylistic comparison from the scouting database, not a prediction of career output.
More from the scouting notes
Callinan mirrors Bontempelli’s modern "tall-mid utility" archetype. At 190cm, he uses his frame to protect the drop of the ball in overhead marking contests, frequently exposing smaller midfielders when pushed deep into the forward 50. Like Bontempelli, his true value lies in his lateral agility and clean ground-level recovery for a player of his height. He doesn’t look heavy or cumbersome in tight spaces; instead, he relies on a high-IQ reading of the play to shift angles, shrug off tacklers, and execute a finesse finish on the run.
Club connection
Gold Coast draft hand · Academy in the scouting database. A listed connection does not confirm nomination or matching eligibility.
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Source: the existing SotaramAFL 2026 scouting database, republished as a dated editorial snapshot. Listed facts have not been independently re-reported for this page. See methodology and corrections.