Each and every Crow is looking forward to having Kurt Tippett back in the team, but one player is anticipating the big man’s return more than most.

A clever small forward, Ian Callinan’s game centres around being at the feet of his taller teammates, and dining on their ‘crumbs’ when the ball comes to ground.

So, it should come as no surprise really that Callinan has experienced a couple of “quiet” weeks in the absence of Tippett - the strongest aerialist in the Adelaide forward line. However, against Fremantle on Saturday the mature-age goalkicker proved he could be dangerous without the star Crow at his side.

Callinan slotted two goals, including a brilliant snap off hands in the first quarter, and set up another to in-form midfielder Matt Wright. He could’ve easily finished with an equal-game high four goals, but uncharacteristically missed two set shots inside 50m. He wasn’t the only inaccurate Crow, with the home team kicking at only 50 per cent for the day.

“I think it was just an off-kicking day for the boys. I was a culprit myself and it’s not something I usually do,” Callinan told afc.com.au after the game.

“Goalkicking is something I work hard on during the week and pride myself on, so it’s extremely disappointing to miss two set shots. But I’ll push on and hopefully kick them all next week.

“I like kicking a few crumbing goals. That’s my role in the side, so it was good to get on the end of a couple today. I spoke to ‘Bicks’ (forward line coach Mark Bickley) during the week about it (my form). I’d had a quiet two or three weeks, so I really wanted to rectify that and play well this week.

“Hopefully, we’ll get Tippo back in the side soon because he sort of helps my role too.”

Despite Fremantle’s revered defensive pressure, Adelaide was able to generate 34 scoring shots on its way to a 28-point win. Hawthorn is the only other team to score so heavily against the Dockers this season, having also finished with 34 scoring shots in round nine.

The Crows, who only generated 49 inside 50ms for the match, were also efficient in scoring from their forward entries.

“Freo pride themselves on winning contested footy and they also like to get numbers behind the play, so it was a pretty hard day for the forwards but in saying that we ended up having 34 shots at goal,” Callinan said.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game and played at a finals-like intensity. Hopefully, it holds us in good stead for later in the year.”

Callinan played his role in the win, finishing with 12 possessions, five marks and 2.2. Coincidentally, he was opposed to former Central District teammate and fellow mature-age recruit Lee Spurr for much of the game.

“It was a bit strange playing on each other,” he said.

“Spurry is doing well for himself. He’s gone over there to Freo, broken into the side and is playing some good footy. It was a bit different playing on him, but hopefully he goes on to have a good AFL career.”

Callinan, who turns 30 in December, is also hopeful of prolonging his AFL career. After an injury-ravaged first season at West Lakes, the skilful and immensely popular forward has missed only two matches this season.

He's kicked 26 goals to be third in the Club’s goalkicking behind twin towers Tippett and Taylor Walker.

“I had an interrupted pre-season and season last year, so to get a good pre-season under my belt coming into this year and to play nearly every game has been great. I’m really enjoying my footy and hopefully we can play some good finals footy. I hope I’ve got a few good years left … you’ll have to tell (List Manager) David Noble that,” he said with a laugh.