THE DOOR remains open for mature-age recruit Ian Callinan to make his AFL debut this season, with Adelaide able to upgrade a rookie - without putting another player on the long-term injury list - at any stage before round 24.
Callinan was on track to play for the Crows in round one before tearing his bicep off the bone against Carlton in week three of the NAB Challenge.
The 28-year-old was confined to an arm brace for two months but joined his teammates at training a few weeks ago.
He missed training on Wednesday with an infected toe, but ran at West Lakes on Thursday and is expected to make his long-awaited return with Central District in the SANFL this weekend.
Adelaide has already promoted three rookies to its senior list this season.
Forward Matt Wright, third-year rookie Chris Schmidt and untried onballer Aidan Riley have been elevated to the primary list in place of injured trio Jason Porplyzia, David Mackay and Phil Davis.
Mackay is hopeful of returning from a shoulder injury with South Adelaide in a fortnight, meaning either Schmidt or Riley will have to return to the rookie list.
However, clubs now have the option of nominating a rookie to be available for selection for the rest of the season as a mid-year rookie upgrade, provided they fit under the salary cap.
Adelaide football operations manager Phil Harper said the clause would allow the club to play three rookies at the same time if their form warranted selection.
"We won't nominate a rookie unless we're going to play them. At the moment we don't need to upgrade anyone, but the opportunity is there if we want to," Harper told afc.com.au.
"I would think Ian would need some match fitness before being considered for selection. You would think he'd need three or four games to push himself into the mix.
"By that time we hope David Mackay will be back playing, but even so we'll still have room to play three rookies if we want to until Porplyzia returns."
Rarely, has a club anticipated the return of an untried rookie-listed player as much as Adelaide has with Callinan's return.
The Jack Oatey medallist (awarded to the best player in the SANFL Grand Final) and four-time Central District best and fairest impressed in several pre-season hit-outs with the Crows.
Harper said the 172cm ball winner was capable of playing up forward and in the midfield at AFL level.
"We would've loved for that injury not to have happen to Ian because if he didn't make the team in round one he would've been very close to it and certainly would've played a bit of AFL footy by now," he said.
"We drafted him because we thought he could play at that level.
"We're keen for him to go out and play with Centrals, play really well and push his name in front of selectors."
Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill
