Not many AFL players call a nine-goal drubbing a dream come true.

But for 28-year-old Adelaide debutant Ian Callinan, his first game was just that, despite Sunday's heavy loss to Geelong.

Playing his first AFL game for the Crows, Callinan erased a decade of rejection which included snubs from four clubs.

"It was a pretty big build-up. It has taken me a fair while, so to finally get a crack was a great experience," he said on Monday.

"I felt confident. It is something I have dreamt of for the last 10 years.

"I just kept trying to throw my name up there."

Callinan said he "nearly fell off his chair" when the rookie was listed by the Crows after his fourth consecutive SANFL premiership last season with Central Districts.

"It's not something you expect at 28 years old," he said.

"I thought the dream was gone but to finally get a crack - it's only one game, but it's a start and hopefully I can get many more."

Callinan, who looked at ease in collecting 21 disposals against the unbeaten Cats, was uncertain why mature-aged footballers were generally overlooked in the AFL system.

"There is no doubt, I could probably name three or four blokes playing at Centrals that could quite easily play AFL footy," he said.

The Tasmanian-born forward tore his bicep from the bone in the pre-season but is thankful for experiencing the fulltime AFL occupation.

"I had to work and go and live in the SANFL environment and it's a different world," he said.

"So I try and put across to the younger guys 'try and treat the AFL system as best you can' because the outside world is completely different to the AFL bubble."

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