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Callan Ward
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Callan Ward (born 10 April 1990) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Western Bulldogs and Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL). Ward was the inaugural Kevin Sheedy Medallist in 2012 and is a dual Brett Kirk Medallist. He was one of three inaugural Greater Western Sydney co-captains, leading the club for eight seasons, and is the club's games record holder with 267 games.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Ward is the grandson of former South Melbourne captain Bill Gunn, who played 104 games for the club between 1952 and 1959.[1] He grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Spotswood[2] and played junior football for Spotswood Football Club in the Western Region Football League.[3] Leading into the 2007 AFL draft, five player managers vied to represent him, and a week out from the draft he decided on Paul Connors, who also represented Chris Judd. Ward was selected by the Bulldogs with their second selection (number 19 overall) after being a mere 20 days old enough to nominate for the draft.[4]
AFL career
[edit]Western Bulldogs (2008–2011)
[edit]This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (September 2023) |
Ward made his debut against St Kilda in round 11 of the 2008 season, collecting 12 disposals and finishing with one goal. In his debut year, he played six games while juggling full-time football and his last year of high school. Having earned a regular spot in the team in 2009, Ward went on to have a breakout season, playing 22 games and earning an AFL Rising Star nomination for his performance against Fremantle in round 18. Ward missed the first half of the 2010 season through injury, but returned to play the rest of the season and finals series. Ward had his best season for the Bulldogs in 2011, playing in all 22 games and averaging 21 disposals, including a 29-disposal, best-on-ground performance against Adelaide in round 13.
Greater Western Sydney (2012–2025)
[edit]
On 5 September 2011, Ward announced that he had signed with the Greater Western Sydney Giants; he was the second player to publicly announce his commitment to the new franchise club. Ward was also announced as one of three inaugural co-captains for the club, alongside Phil Davis and Luke Power. On 24 March 2012, in the Giants' debut AFL match against Sydney, he kicked the Giants' first ever goal.[5] Ward went on to win the Giants' inaugural best-and-fairest award, named the Kevin Sheedy Medal after their coach, Kevin Sheedy.[6]
Ward enjoyed a solid season in 2013, despite the club winning only one game for the year; Ward was named best-on-ground for his 31 disposals and four goals in that game, against Melbourne. Ward followed up with another consistent season in 2014, in which he polled fifteen Brownlow Medal votes. This included four best-on-ground performances, two of which were narrow seven-point losses to St Kilda and Hawthorn.[7]
Ward had a career-best season in 2015, playing all 22 games and averaging 25 disposals, and polling a club-record nineteen Brownlow votes. Ward had another consistent season in 2016, during which the Giants made finals for the first time, securing their first finals win against Sydney, and fell six points short of making the Grand Final after losing to Ward's former club, the Western Bulldogs. Ward played all 25 games the following season, averaging 27 disposals.
In 2018, Ward played his 200th game in round 8 against West Coast,[8] and played his 150th game for the Giants (becoming the first player to do so) in round 19 against St Kilda.[9] Ward sustained a knee injury during the 2019 pre-season, meaning that he would miss the first few rounds of the season and his consecutive games streak would end at 95 games.[10] He returned against Geelong in round 4; however, five minutes into the game, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, ruling him out for the rest of the season.[11] He later began assisting Giants coach Leon Cameron on the interchange bench during matches while recovering from his injury.[12] In December 2019, Stephen Coniglio took over the captaincy of the Giants from Ward and Davis.[13]
Ward made a successful return from injury in round 2 of the 2020 season against North Melbourne.[14] He missed the round 5 match against Hawthorn due to soreness,[15] before suffering a right knee injury upon his return against Port Adelaide the following week.[16]
In round 12, 2025, in what was widely considered to likely be Ward's final season, Ward ruptured his Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the opening minutes against Richmond at Sydney Showground Stadium.[17] Having being carried off in tears, Ward addressed his teammates in the three quarter time huddle, inspiring them to a comeback victory from 28 points behind in the final quarter.[18] Following the season-ending injury, Ward announced his retirement from AFL football in August 2025.[19]
Statistics
[edit] G
|
Goals | K
|
Kicks | D
|
Disposals | T
|
Tackles |
B
|
Behinds | H
|
Handballs | M
|
Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 2008 | Western Bulldogs | 14 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 32 | 60 | 18 | 10 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 10.0 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 0 |
| 2009 | Western Bulldogs | 14 | 22 | 18 | 13 | 178 | 184 | 362 | 70 | 86 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 8.1 | 8.4 | 16.5 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 0 |
| 2010 | Western Bulldogs | 14 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 76 | 97 | 173 | 36 | 34 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 7.6 | 9.7 | 17.3 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 0 |
| 2011 | Western Bulldogs | 14 | 22 | 12 | 11 | 204 | 253 | 457 | 74 | 96 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 9.3 | 11.5 | 20.8 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 6 |
| 2012 | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 20 | 8 | 11 | 278 | 210 | 488 | 86 | 100 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 13.9 | 10.5 | 24.4 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 5 |
| 2013 | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 247 | 242 | 489 | 95 | 94 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 11.8 | 11.5 | 23.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 |
| 2014 | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 20 | 7 | 10 | 240 | 258 | 498 | 75 | 115 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 12.0 | 12.9 | 24.9 | 3.8 | 5.8 | 15 |
| 2015 | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 22 | 10 | 7 | 253 | 303 | 556 | 103 | 115 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 11.5 | 13.8 | 25.3 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 19 |
| 2016 | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 24 | 16 | 12 | 272 | 287 | 559 | 82 | 109 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 11.3 | 12.0 | 23.3 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 12 |
| 2017 | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 25 | 14 | 10 | 354 | 324 | 678 | 90 | 98 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 14.2 | 13.0 | 27.1 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 11 |
| 2018 | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 24 | 8 | 15 | 318 | 324 | 642 | 92 | 95 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 13.3 | 13.5 | 26.8 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 13 |
| 2019 | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2020[a] | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 56 | 48 | 104 | 16 | 11 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 8.0 | 6.9 | 14.9 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 0 |
| 2021 | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 24 | 15 | 5 | 278 | 267 | 545 | 90 | 71 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 11.6 | 11.1 | 22.7 | 3.8 | 3.0 | 8 |
| 2022 | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 22 | 8 | 7 | 247 | 230 | 477 | 103 | 58 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 11.2 | 10.5 | 21.7 | 4.7 | 2.6 | 1 |
| 2023 | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 25 | 11 | 12 | 243 | 248 | 491 | 71 | 70 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 9.7 | 9.9 | 19.6 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3 |
| 2024 | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 20 | 13 | 2 | 193 | 175 | 368 | 87 | 54 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 9.7 | 8.8 | 18.4 | 4.4 | 2.7 | 0 |
| 2025 | Greater Western Sydney | 8 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 90 | 91 | 181 | 42 | 12 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 15.1 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0 |
| Career[20] | 327 | 163 | 128 | 3556 | 3573 | 7129 | 1230 | 1228 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 10.9 | 10.9 | 21.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 97 | ||
Notes
- ^ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Honours and achievements
[edit]Team
Individual
- Greater Western Sydney Giants co-captain: 2012–2019
- Greater Western Sydney games record holder
- Kevin Sheedy Medal: 2012
- Robert Rose Award: 2018
- 2× Brett Kirk Medal: 2014 (game 1), 2017 (game 2)
- Australia representative honours in international rules football: 2011
- AFL Rising Star nominee: 2009
References
[edit]- ^ Petrie, Andrea (4 March 2010). "Grandson of a Gunn". The Age. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ "'Heart of gold, head of cement': The unlikely 300-gamer who built a club... just one thing's missing". Fox Sports. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ Aussie Rules (8 September 2016). Where it All Began - Bachar Houli and Callan Ward. Retrieved 2 April 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ Jennifer Witham (24 November 2007). "Bulldogs' 'mixed bag' of talent". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.
- ^ "GWS v Swans: As it happened". The Daily Telegraph. 24 March 2012.
- ^ "Greater Western Sydney co-captain Callan Ward claims Kevin Sheedy medal for club's best and fairest". Fox Sports. 6 September 2012.
- ^ Ward GIANTS' Brownlow Best, GWS Giants official website, 23 September 2014
- ^ Curley, Adam (12 May 2018). "Match report: Seventh heaven for Eagles". afl.com.au. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ Curley, Adam (28 July 2018). "Match report: Top-four Giants continue rise". afl.com.au. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ Caffrey, Oliver; AAP (7 March 2019). "UPDATE: Gun Giants mid sidelined for up to six weeks". afl.com.au. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ Guthrie, Ben (14 April 2019). "Season over for Giants skipper after ACL fears confirmed". afl.com.au. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ Curley, Adam (23 May 2019). "Wounded Giant gun flies onto the bench for crucial MCG match". afl.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
- ^ "Giants scrap co-captain model, announce first standalone skipper". afl.com.au. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ Beveridge, Riley (14 June 2020). "Kangas storm home to leave Giants stunned". afl.com.au. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Correia, Chris (4 July 2020). "Giant blow: Former skipper to miss Hawks clash". afl.com.au. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ Rogers, Michael (14 July 2020). "New knee blow for luckless veteran Giants mid". afl.com.au. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ "Greater Western Sydney veteran Callan Ward in tears after devastating knee injury against Richmond". Seven News. 31 May 2025.
- ^ "Injured veteran's rev-up inspires Giants to come-from-behind victory over Tigers". Nine Network. 31 May 2025.
- ^ "Forever a GIANT: Callan Ward Bids Farewell To The Game". gwsgiants.com.au. 4 August 2025.
- ^ "Callan Ward". AFL Tables. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
External links
[edit]- Callan Ward's profile on the official website of the Greater Western Sydney Giants
- Callan Ward's playing statistics from AFL Tables
Callan Ward
View on GrokipediaEarly life and junior career
Family background
Callan Ward was born on 10 April 1990 in Spotswood, a suburb in Melbourne's western region of Victoria.[2][4] Ward hails from a family deeply rooted in Australian football, as the grandson of Bill Gunn, a prominent player and captain for South Melbourne. Gunn featured in 104 games for the club from 1952 to 1959, showcasing versatility across positions like centre half-forward and full-forward while representing Victoria on multiple occasions, including in 1952, 1953, and 1954.[5] He captained South Melbourne in 1955 and topped the team's goalkicking tally in 1956 with 28 goals. He finished fifth in the 1958 Brownlow Medal count with 16 votes before retiring at age 27.[5] This heritage significantly shaped Ward's early exposure to the sport, with Gunn's storied career—marked by his induction into the Sydney Swans Hall of Fame—instilling a strong familial connection to the game that influenced Ward from childhood.[4][5] Raised in Melbourne's football-passionate western suburbs, Ward grew up immersed in the local culture of the sport, supported by his parents' active involvement in community football. His father wore the iconic number 8—later adopted by Ward—while playing for Yarraville in the Victorian Football Association and at the grassroots level for Spotswood.[4] This environment fostered Ward's early interest, leading him to local junior clubs in the area.[6]Junior football and draft
Ward began his organised football journey in Melbourne's western suburbs, playing junior football for the Spotswood Football Club in the Western Region Football League. Growing up in the local community, he developed his skills at the club, where he formed lasting connections and honed his competitive edge from an early age.[6][4] As a bottom-age player, Ward earned selection in the Victorian Metropolitan (Vic Metro) under-18 representative team for the 2007 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, showcasing his potential despite being a year younger than most competitors. He progressed through the TAC Cup ranks with the Western Jets, where he had an impressive season that caught the attention of AFL recruiters, blending skill with relentless effort in midfield contests.[7][8][9] At just 17 years old, Ward was selected by the Western Bulldogs with pick 19 in the 2007 AFL National Draft, a choice influenced by scouting assessments that highlighted his toughness in contested situations and emerging leadership qualities on the field. His fearless approach and ability to inspire teammates were key factors in his evaluation, marking him as a high-upside prospect for the club.[1][10][11]AFL career
Western Bulldogs (2008–2011)
Callan Ward made his AFL debut for the Western Bulldogs in round 11 of the 2008 season against St Kilda at Docklands Stadium, aged 18 and while still completing his Year 12 studies at school.[12] In that match, he recorded 12 disposals and kicked his first career goal, marking the start of a rapid transition from junior ranks to professional football. Ward balanced his early career demands by attending training sessions after school, showcasing the resilience that defined his junior playing days. Over his debut season, he played six games, averaging 10 disposals per match as he adjusted to the demands of elite-level competition.[13] In 2009, Ward established himself as a consistent midfield contributor, playing 22 games and averaging 16.4 disposals per game while kicking 18 goals.[14] His reliable performances across the season culminated in a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in round 18 against Fremantle, where he gathered 22 disposals in a 31-point victory, highlighting his growing influence in the Bulldogs' engine room.[15] By the end of the year, Ward had become a key rotation player, contributing to the team's push toward the finals. Ward played a pivotal role in the Western Bulldogs' 2010 finals campaign, appearing in both their elimination final win over Fremantle and the semi-final win over Sydney. In the semi-final at the MCG, he recorded 18 disposals, five marks, five tackles, and one goal, delivering a starring performance that underscored his development into a tough, versatile midfielder.[16] Over four seasons with the Bulldogs from 2008 to 2011, Ward featured in 60 games and kicked 33 goals, evolving from a raw teenager into an established AFL talent.[17] At the conclusion of the 2011 season, Ward requested a trade to the expansion Greater Western Sydney Giants, signing a five-year contract as one of the club's foundation players to help build the new franchise.[18] In compensation, the AFL awarded the Bulldogs a first-round draft pick under the second band of the expansion rules, which became pick 7 in the 2012 draft and was later used to select Jackson Macrae.[19]Greater Western Sydney (2012–2025)
Callan Ward joined Greater Western Sydney as a key recruit in the club's inaugural AFL season in 2012, bringing leadership experience from his early career at the Western Bulldogs that laid the foundation for his captaincy role.[2] He was appointed as one of three inaugural co-captains alongside Phil Davis and Luke Power, sharing the responsibility with Davis through 2019, and played a pivotal role in establishing the Giants' culture during their formative years as an expansion team.[20] Over his tenure, Ward appeared in 267 games for the club, kicking 130 goals, while embodying the resilience and team-first ethos essential to building a competitive program from scratch.[13] In his debut season, Ward quickly became a cornerstone of the Giants' midfield, playing 20 games and earning the inaugural Kevin Sheedy Medal as the club's best and fairest player, a testament to his immediate impact under coach Kevin Sheedy.[21] His leadership shone in high-stakes local derbies against Sydney, where he won the Brett Kirk Medal for best on ground in 2014—during GWS's historic round-one victory—and again in 2017, highlighting his ability to inspire and perform under pressure in rivalry matches that helped foster the club's identity.[22] These accolades underscored Ward's contributions to the Giants' growth, as he mentored younger players and drove on-field standards amid the challenges of early expansion club development. As the club matured into a consistent contender, Ward adapted his game in his later years, transitioning to a versatile wing role in 2024 that allowed him to maintain his influence while supporting the team's dynamic structure.[23] This shift proved effective during GWS's strong 2024 campaign, which included a qualifying final loss to Sydney and a hard-fought semi-final loss to Brisbane, where Ward's experience helped propel the Giants deep into September.[3] However, his 2025 season was cut short by a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury in round 12 against Richmond, during a tackle in the first quarter at ENGIE Stadium, which ultimately led to his retirement announcement in August after 18 AFL seasons.[23]Post-playing career
Retirement
Callan Ward announced his retirement from the AFL on August 4, 2025, at Greater Western Sydney's headquarters, following a season-ending ACL injury to his right knee sustained in round 12 of the 2025 season against Richmond.[3][23] The injury, his second ACL rupture, occurred during a tackle in the first quarter and marked the culmination of the physical toll from an 18-season career that began in 2008.[3] Ward had signed a one-year contract extension with the Giants in September 2024, allowing him to return for what became his 18th and final season.[24] In reflecting on his career, Ward highlighted his 327 games—60 with the Western Bulldogs and 267 with the Giants—as a source of immense pride, emphasizing his role as the most-capped player in GWS history and an inaugural leader who helped establish the club's identity.[3][23] He expressed no regrets despite the absence of a premiership, focusing instead on the personal growth and legacy he built in growing the sport in Western Sydney over 14 seasons with the Giants.[3] The announcement was deeply emotional, with Ward delivering an inspiring three-quarter-time address to his teammates immediately after the injury, rallying them to victory in that match.[23] The Giants paid tribute to Ward as the "heart and soul" of the club, crediting him with shaping its culture and leadership since his arrival as a foundation player in 2012.[23] CEO David Matthews described Ward's impact as immeasurable, both on and off the field, while teammates like Lachie Whitfield offered heartfelt gestures, underscoring the profound respect within the group.[3][23] Fans responded with widespread admiration, hailing his resilience and contributions to the Giants' rise, marking the end of an era for the club.[3]Off-field roles
Following his retirement from playing in August 2025, Callan Ward took on a part-time role as Business and Football Advisor for the Greater Western Sydney Giants starting in the 2026 season.[25] This position, based primarily in Melbourne with occasional presence in Sydney, involves mentoring players, supporting AFLW leadership development, contributing to recruiting and list management, reinforcing club culture, and assisting with commercial partnerships, fundraising, and major events.[25] Ward expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to "give back in a different way," leveraging his extensive experience to nurture the next generation while supporting off-field operations.[25] In the lead-up to this appointment, Ward attracted interest from Victorian clubs, including Hawthorn and North Melbourne, for potential roles in their football departments as of September 2025.[26] These clubs approached him regarding development and leadership coaching positions, recognizing his leadership as an inaugural co-captain and his 327 AFL games of experience.[27] Despite the overtures, Ward elected to remain with the Giants, continuing his deep ties to the club he helped establish. Ward's broader legacy as a trailblazer for expansion clubs like the Giants underscores his inspirational influence, having served as co-captain for eight years, kicked the club's first AFL goal in 2012, and become its games record holder with 267 appearances.[28][3] His journey from the Western Bulldogs to leading GWS through its formative years has been hailed as pivotal to the AFL's growth in non-traditional markets, positioning him for ongoing contributions in coaching pathways or media commentary, though his current advisory role emphasizes sustained involvement with the Giants.[3][29]Career statistics and honours
Statistics
Callan Ward played a total of 327 AFL games across his career, scoring 163 goals. He appeared in 60 games for the Western Bulldogs, kicking 33 goals, before transferring to Greater Western Sydney, where he played 267 games and scored 130 goals.[13][1] Ward's career per-game averages were 10.9 kicks, 10.9 handballs, 21.8 disposals, 3.8 marks, and 3.8 tackles. Among his year-by-year highlights, he recorded peak disposal averages in 2017 (27.1 per game across 25 matches) and strong seasons in 2015 (25.3 disposals per game) and 2016 (23.3 disposals per game). He also featured in 20 finals games, scoring 12 goals.[13] The following table summarizes Ward's season-by-season statistics, with all games including finals:| Year | Club | Games | Goals | Kicks | Handballs | Disposals | Marks | Tackles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Western Bulldogs | 6 | 2 | 28 | 32 | 60 | 18 | 10 |
| 2009 | Western Bulldogs | 22 | 18 | 178 | 184 | 362 | 70 | 86 |
| 2010 | Western Bulldogs | 10 | 1 | 76 | 97 | 173 | 36 | 34 |
| 2011 | Western Bulldogs | 22 | 12 | 204 | 253 | 457 | 74 | 96 |
| 2012 | GWS Giants | 20 | 8 | 278 | 210 | 488 | 86 | 100 |
| 2013 | GWS Giants | 21 | 11 | 247 | 242 | 489 | 95 | 94 |
| 2014 | GWS Giants | 20 | 7 | 240 | 258 | 498 | 75 | 115 |
| 2015 | GWS Giants | 22 | 10 | 253 | 303 | 556 | 103 | 115 |
| 2016 | GWS Giants | 24 | 16 | 272 | 287 | 559 | 82 | 109 |
| 2017 | GWS Giants | 25 | 14 | 354 | 324 | 678 | 90 | 98 |
| 2018 | GWS Giants | 24 | 8 | 318 | 324 | 642 | 92 | 95 |
| 2019 | GWS Giants | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | GWS Giants | 7 | 3 | 56 | 48 | 104 | 16 | 11 |
| 2021 | GWS Giants | 24 | 15 | 278 | 267 | 545 | 90 | 71 |
| 2022 | GWS Giants | 22 | 8 | 247 | 230 | 477 | 103 | 58 |
| 2023 | GWS Giants | 25 | 11 | 243 | 248 | 491 | 71 | 70 |
| 2024 | GWS Giants | 20 | 13 | 193 | 175 | 368 | 87 | 54 |
| 2025 | GWS Giants | 12 | 6 | 90 | 91 | 181 | 42 | 12 |
| Career Total | 327 | 163 | 3,556 | 3,573 | 7,129 | 1,230 | 1,228 |