West Coast Eagles tall Callum Jamieson fast-tracks AFL apprenticeship with variety of roles

It’s a tough caper the AFL.

Callum Jamieson joined West Coast from North Beach as a ruckman who could play a bit forward, but he’s had to fast-track into any number of roles without the luxury of a long apprenticeship.

His AFL career is only 15 games young and he’s already stared down some of the AFL’s ruck giants and been asked to curb the most potent forwards in the game — all while learning on the run.

“I have been moved around a bit,” Jamieson told The West Australian.

“It has been difficult but I am just trying to learn as much as a can.”

Jamieson played nine games in 2022, after debuting at full-back, four in 23 and two from two so far in 2024, and has “settled” into a key defensive post, while helping Bailey Williams shoulder the ruck load in Matt Flynn’s absence.

Coming off a pre-season in which he had “a few sore groins”, he’s still working out exactly what his best position is, but at 200cm, he’s joined a growing band of AFL “tall” backmen.

In round one, he spent time on Port Adelaide pair Todd Marshall and Charlie Dixon.

He’s warming to the role too, spending most of last Sunday’s game against GWS in the back half after youngster Harry Barnett came into the team to help out Williams.

Jamieson has leant on older, wiser heads in the last line, such as Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass.

His willingness to take on Aaron Cadman and Jake Riccardi in the 65-point loss to the Giants, often faced with a flood of orange midfielders streaming forward, allowed McGovern to wrestle free at times and flourish as the free defender.

McGovern was able to haul in seven marks and 26 disposals and chalk up 453 metres gained.

“I have been liking it down back. Working with the likes of Gov and Tom Barrass, two key experienced players,” he said.

“They are pretty vocal. They have been doing it together for a very long time. It is just tyring to mix in with them and if I can take a player and allow Gov to sit off a bit and play a little bit higher then that helps the team.

“We can see the damage that Gov does when he is spare.”