NAB AFL Rising Star

Finn Callaghan Gws Giants

Finn Callaghan picked exactly the right time and place to play his best game for the GWS Giants.

The classy left-footer had 26 disposals at 88.5 per cent efficiency and his 10 marks were a game high as the Giants came from the clouds to knock over Sydney by one point in a thrilling Sydney Derby at the SCG last Saturday.

“To play well in a big game is exciting,” he told gwsgiants.com.au.

“I was lucky enough to get a bit of the ball and kick it to the forwards, which is what I like to do.”

The third selection overall at the 2021 AFL National Draft has featured in all seven games this year after an injury-interrupted debut season in which he featured just five times at AFL level.

“I was pretty determined to get my training right, my body right and get out there.”

Callaghan played his junior football for Mordialloc-Braeside and went to St Bedes College before being drafted from the Sandringham Dragons.

ASHLEY BROWNE

The Magpies should have been running on fumes backing up after just five days against the rested Crows on their home deck, but their self-belief remains a thing of beauty.

Collingwood meets the fading Sydney Swans on Sunday at the MCG for the first time since 2013.

That and the Port Adelaide v Essendon game at Adelaide Oval a couple of hours prior are the pick of the Sunday games.

The Crows somehow lost the unlosable game to the Magpies and must make the difficult trip to GMHBA Stadium to face the Cats, who appear to be playing at the same level as last season when they romped their way to the flag.

Adelaide is 0-12 at Geelong since last winning there in 2003.

That and the always-frosty GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs match-up in Canberra are Saturday’s picks.