With Ben Graham heading for the US to try out for gridiron, the number seven guernsey became available. It was the number his father Terry wore during his career with the Cats.
"It's a thrill to wear the same number Dad did when he was here,'' Tim said yesterday.
"I knew it would become available when Benny left and he rang and we had a bit of a chat and the club offered it to me.
"It would be nice to go one better than Dad and win a premiership, Dad was unlucky so that would be the icing on the cake for us.''
Terry Callan's injury was one of the few disappointing aspects of 1963 for Geelong.
A state representative in the back pocket the year before, he injured his knee in the second last roster match of the season and missed the premiership.
He had an operation in the US in the off season and overcame post operation infection to make a comeback. It was short lived and he broke down in the second last game of the season. This time he called it quits.
Forty years on, he relishes the opportunity to watch his son play.
"Not many kids get the chance to play in a premiership. I missed out unfortunately. Now with the way the side is going he may get his chance.
"It's nice that he would want to do this, it's nice that he would want to wear my number. I would have been proud of what he achieved wearing any number.
"They have to make their own mark It's a thrill for me just to see him play, he was nowhere around when I was playing.''
Tim Callan seemed to have cemented a spot in Geelong's tough, reliable defence towards the end of last season but then got osteitis pubis.
"It's pretty good now and I'll be right for the start of the Wizard Cup,'' he said.
"It was disappointing to miss out playing in the finals last season but it gives you the incentive to push on.''
