TASMANIAN tall Tom McCallum has proven over the past two years that he can fill a role at either end, and now he just needs an opportunity to showcase that at the top level. Having plied his trade as a forward in 2021, McCallum was thrown back in 2022 and captured recruiters attention, earning an invite to the AFL National Draft Combine.

Though unable to train due to a left ankle injury sustained this year, McCallum still had a busy combine, as the 192cm talent was interviewed by 10 clubs. Likely to land somewhere in the mid-to-late draft, McCallum is an athletic type who has safe hands and a determination to take grass. McCallum describes his “athletic profile” as his biggest strength that is likely to get him over the line in this month’s AFL National Draft.

“There’s not too many tall defenders being 192/193 that can jump, run, mark the ball as well as I can,” McCallum said. “Endurance and speed wise, and then also my marking is a very good attribute and just my overall competitiveness towards the ball and the game.”

Currently working on his kicking consistency, McCallum said if he could lift his efficiency by “five or 10 per cent” then he could take his game to another level. While that might be an improvement, McCallum’s versatility is something that will attract attention, with the Tasmanian consistent up both ends of the ground. But where does he think is his best position?

“I think definitely forward and back are my two main positions I’ve played but I think that half-back that can intercept and then beat my man one-on-one,” McCallum said. “I think that’s my big key attribute, that’s my best position so I hope that can translate to AFL level if I get my opportunity.”

McCallum found out the challenges with playing for the Tasmania Devils in the NAB League, where a lot of travel would be involved week-to-week, and a lack of face-to-face contact with many teammates. Despite that, the Devils still reached a preliminary final under the tutledge of coach Jeromey Webberley.

“Being Tassie playing NAB League you’ve got to travel quite a lot but the team’s been real good this year,” McCallum said. “Jez (Webberley) our coach has been very good. We’ve all connected pretty well as a group. We don’t see each other much throughout the week at training from all different regions of the state, but connecting on weekends has taken us along the way and we’ve played well as a team.”

While the discussion of Tasmania having its own AFL team rages on, McCallum said he is well equipped to move interstate, and said he was “excited” for the move, and would not have any trouble in acclimatising in another region. Even if Tasmania was awarded its own team one day, McCallum said he was a loyal player who would not necessarily move home for the sake of it.

“It would be very good (to represent your state) but I feel like if I’m comfortable in my environment at my current club, I wouldn’t see why I would want to move from my environment,” he said. “But having a Tassie team is a very good option to come back home and be with the family. It would be good for Tassie.”

Now it is just a waiting game for the talented tall, who has ticked plenty of boxes in a promising top-age year that added plenty of extra strings to his bow, and more than a few clubs are considering reading out his name on November 29.