Callinan was offered a lifeline by the Crows in last year’s NAB AFL Rookie Draft, following several dominant seasons at SANFL and VFL level.
The 28-year-old made a smooth transition to pre-season training and won more admirers on Friday, kicking two goals for the victorious white team.
Adelaide is able to nominate one player from its rookie list to play as early as round one and football operations manager Phil Harper said Callinan had done his chances of an early-season debut no harm.
"Ian can really kick the ball and it gives us an opportunity to maybe see Jason Porplyzia a bit more in the midfield if he can maintain that. It’s early days yet, but anyone who can kick goals is very hand for you," Harper said on Friday.
"Ian’s an impressive player. We’ve thought that for a while and no one has really given him a go [at AFL level]. He’s really popular amongst all the guys and hopefully it all works out for him."
Rookie-listed players Matthew Wright and Lachlan Roach also impressed in the 50-minute hit-out, while highly rated first-round draft pick Brodie Smith showed he could mix it with the bigger bodies.
Smith started on a wing before shifting to half-back and Harper said he had been impressed with the 19-year-old.
"Brodie looked very accomplished," Harper said.
"He looked accomplished in the SANFL last year and out there playing across half-back today I thought he did a great job, particularly early when the heat was on, which was a good sign."
Adelaide reported a few minor casualties in the competitive, but sometimes scrappy affair.
Andy Otten (ankle), Chris Knights (corked quad) and Moran (poke in the eye) all left the field early, but are expected to play in the club’s NAB Cup-opener against Port Adelaide and Melbourne on February 11.
Bernie Vince (knee), David Mackay (groin), Sam Shaw (back), James Craig (hamstring), Will Young (shoulder), Chris Schmidt (knee) and Tim Milera all sat out the trial and won’t be available for selection next week.
Vince and Mackay are expected to play by round three of the pre-season competition.
Ex-Carlton ruckman Sam Jacobs split the webbing in his hand at training earlier in the week and was excused from the scratch match, but the club got a look at its other trade-week recruit, Richard Tambling.
Tambling started in defence for the ‘blue’ team, taking the kick-outs on a couple of occasions. Harper said the ex-Richmond midfielder had slotted into the team nicely.
"Richard played that sweeping role across half-back and did it really well," he said.
"He was a little bit fumbly and missed a couple of kicks, but he certainly got plenty of the ball and suggested he might be a really good addition for us."
The Crows will field between 30-35 players for their games against the Power and the Dees, with several players to line up in only one of the two hit-outs.
Adelaide hasn’t won a NAB Cup game since 2008 and Harper said the club was keen to atone for a particularly dismal showing last year.
"We were pretty non-competitive in the first NAB Cup game [against Port Adelaide] last year," he said.
"Whether we have a win or a loss, the importance of competitiveness never goes away from our club. We’ll be pretty keen to be fired up on Friday night."
Score:
White 6.5 d Blue 4.2
Goalkickers:
White: Callinan, Walker 2, Tippett, Porplyzia
Blue: McKernan, Gunston, Sellar, Cook
