Player Watch #14 Callum Mills (c)

[Kennedy Parker]

Callum Mills

Callum Mills

14

Callum Mills

Age

28

Ht

188cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

10.8

4star

HB

7.4

5star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.6

4star

MG

287.0

4star

D

18.4

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

3.4

4star

MG

293.4

4star

D

17.0

5star

K

9.4

4star

HB

7.6

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.8

5star

MG

284.4

5star

is one of the best young players in the AFL. The QBE Sydney Swans Academy graduate won the 2016 AFL Rising Star award and was selected in the AFL Players’ Association’s 22Under22 team in three of his four eligible years. Mills is a small defender with uncompromising courage who’s also capable of shifting through the midfield. The New South Welshman was elevated to Sydney’s leadership group during the 2018 pre-season at the age of just 21, and he’s now a member of a five-man leadership panel alongside co-captains Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker

26

Luke Parker

Age

32

Ht

183cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

24.2

5star

K

12.6

5star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.8

4star

T

5.6

5star

CL

5.8

5star

D

22.1

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

9.9

5star

M

3.9

4star

T

5.0

5star

CL

5.5

5star

D

21.2

5star

K

11.4

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

8.0

5star

CL

5.2

5star

and Dane Rampe

24

Dane Rampe

Age

34

Ht

187cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.0

4star

K

10.6

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

4.9

5star

T

2.5

4star

MG

358.8

5star

D

14.1

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

5.1

3star

M

3.4

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

284.5

4star

D

10.6

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.4

4star

, as well as Lance Franklin.

Callum Mills

14

Callum Mills

Age

28

Ht

188cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

10.8

4star

HB

7.4

5star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.6

4star

MG

287.0

4star

D

18.4

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

6.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

3.4

4star

MG

293.4

4star

D

17.0

5star

K

9.4

4star

HB

7.6

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.8

5star

MG

284.4

5star

DOB: 02 April 1997
DEBUT: 2016
DRAFT: #3, 2015 National Draft
RECRUITED FROM: North Shore (NSW)

Callum Mills | AFL

Follow Callum Mills's progress through AFL

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[Kiama Chris]

I feel like the difference between midfield and defence is probably cumulative wear & tear. A midfielder is probably more sore and banged up by the time they hit 30 than a defender or a forward, but I don't think there's any greater risk of actually injuring yourself playing in the midfield vs defence.

Mills hasn't even played two whole seasons in the midfield though, so I don't think his position has anything to do with his injuries. His body just seems cursed.

This. There's a lot more forceful contact playing in the mids. Damage to muscles and joints. Twisting, bending and so on. Also players often start midfield years earlier.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Agree let’s face it. He isn’t as good as heeney , Warner or errol as a mid

All 4 of those (plus Rowbottom) are different animals. With good rotation they can be complementary and matchwinners one and all.

 

[zyzzbruh]

All 4 of those (plus Rowbottom) are different animals. With good rotation they can be complementary and matchwinners one and all.

That mix has already proven they are not complimentary. Their individual brilliance sets them apart and gets us over the line but as a midfield combo they lack cohesion, especially defensively. Losing centre clearances has gone on far too long to just be a coincidence. We lack pure midfield craft.

Rowbottom and Heeney are probably the two reliable ingredients, but they need another pure midfield player to partner them. Warner, Errol and Mills are slightly lesser versions of the package that is Heeney albeit with particular weaponry they excel in. But neither of those 3 are pure reliable midfielders, they're all hybrids. They would work well in a rotation with Heeney but the third option must be a specialised midfielder.

Sheldrick and Adams are the two obvious candidates. You know you are going to get contest and defensive accountability from Adams. If those two are seen as inadequate options for various reasons then we need to recruit someone who fits the bill. If we still see the same combo of Heeney + Mills or Errol or Warner then be prepared for the same old shit clearance differential.

 

[caesar88]

All 4 of those (plus Rowbottom) are different animals. With good rotation they can be complementary and matchwinners one and all.

 

[Callipygian]

A few people are going to have egg on their faces if Mills comes good. Way too soon to be writing him off.

 

[BloodySwan]

A few people are going to have egg on their faces if Mills comes good. Way too soon to be writing him off.

He might not be the best at any one thing but he's bloody good at everything he does. Having someone who can slot into any weakness you're facing is huge

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Mills' injury is going to be a minimum of 6 weeks, he'll be in the boot for 2 weeks alone. Once he's recovered and gotten ready for match play (and yes he needs to play a game in the VFL, if we don't have a bye!), we shouldn't be pushing for anything earlier than Round 5 or 6

 

[giantsully]

Mills' injury is going to be a minimum of 6 weeks, he'll be in the boot for 2 weeks alone. Once he's recovered and gotten ready for match play (and yes he needs to play a game in the VFL, if we don't have a bye!), we shouldn't be pushing for anything earlier than Round 5 or 6

It feels like it doesn't it? What a bummer, feels like an important year for Callum and hence for the Swans.

 

[BarneyBent]

While I agree that at 100% fitness and form we want Mills in the midfield, I am very happy for him to play in defence when he returns. His leadership down back is valuable, and he's very capable down there.

If he's fit and firing in the second half of the year then by all means shift him back into the mids, but if not then remaining in defence is still a perfectly acceptable outcome for us.

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Mills' injury is going to be a minimum of 6 weeks, he'll be in the boot for 2 weeks alone. Once he's recovered and gotten ready for match play (and yes he needs to play a game in the VFL, if we don't have a bye!), we shouldn't be pushing for anything earlier than Round 5 or 6

Yep. I called it early.

Dekooc si slliM

 

[killablood]

Now am I remembering correctly,
wasn't Mills running around with a busted foot for weeks and weeks at some stage a couple of seasons back? I can recall him running around with what looked like a stone in his boot? and playing very well surprisingly. Is this the same injury? Have I made this up?
I'm with the majority, quite concerning the amount and the type of injuries. He needs to be re built, even if it means another season missed. Hard to believe they didn't use last year to completely rebuild him and work on mechanics, etc. I've got everything crossed for him, he is brilliant to watch in full flight, hopefully we see it again.

 

[BloodySwan]

Callum can take his time getting fit. We need him for September, not march, April or May

 

[Kiama Chris]

Mills' injury is going to be a minimum of 6 weeks, he'll be in the boot for 2 weeks alone. Once he's recovered and gotten ready for match play (and yes he needs to play a game in the VFL, if we don't have a bye!), we shouldn't be pushing for anything earlier than Round 5 or 6

With his Achilles issues and now Plantar you'd be forgiven for thinking he has problematic feet.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Every year the game gets more demanding on the players last season it felt like it went forever till the finals.

Time is not on Mills side he isnt 24 anymore

 

[rustycrate]

Every year the game gets more demanding on the players last season it felt like it went forever till the finals.

Time is not on Mills side he isnt 24 anymore

You give up too easy.

 

[Voula]

Now am I remembering correctly,
wasn't Mills running around with a busted foot for weeks and weeks at some stage a couple of seasons back? I can recall him running around with what looked like a stone in his boot? and playing very well surprisingly. Is this the same injury? Have I made this up?
I'm with the majority, quite concerning the amount and the type of injuries. He needs to be re built, even if it means another season missed. Hard to believe they didn't use last year to completely rebuild him and work on mechanics, etc. I've got everything crossed for him, he is brilliant to watch in full flight, hopefully we see it again.

It was his Achilles. And the funny thing was when he had to have a week off for isolation, his injury flared.

 

[Cadsky]

Time to give up the Captaincy. You can't lead the team from the boundary line or coaches box.

You can be just as influential off the field without the C.

You're just doing a disservice to the club, players and supporters at this point.

 

[The King!]

The thing I find odd is this club has basically gone co captains since Maxfield retired. Why not at least go back to that this year.

Mills struggled fitness wise last year and at least he could have a clear co skipper in now

 

[Punts]

Bet we don’t see him this season

Can’t even get to full training atm

His body could seriously be cooked , if its not a hammy it’s a calf etc etc

 

[The King!]

Love him but if he gets fit mid year do we try to trade him in the off season while he has value

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Time to give up the Captaincy. You can't lead the team from the boundary line or coaches box.

You can be just as influential off the field without the C.

You're just doing a disservice to the club, players and supporters at this point.

The issue would be a nil talking point if they had just done the bare minimum, and sent out a press release and an IG post with the leadership group. We'd know who the leaders actually were instead of the weekly guessing game (which is now boring after 4 weeks!)

 

[giantsully]

This news feels both incredibly disappointing and highly unsurprising.

 

[caesar88]

The issue would be a nil talking point if they had just done the bare minimum, and sent out a press release and an IG post with the leadership group. We'd know who the leaders actually were instead of the weekly guessing game (which is now boring after 4 weeks!)

To be fair, I'd bet they'd probably all be out right now anyway with the exception of Heeney.

 

[The King!]

To be fair I think Mills has seemed a good leader in his time as co captain and now skipper. He is also a great ****en player.
This is just frustrating!

 

[caesar88]

To be fair I think Mills has seemed a good leader in his time as co captain and now skipper. He is also a great ****en player.
This is just frustrating!

Yep for me it's purely about him being on the park. I think the captain can only captain from the stands for so long before the team starts to need you out there.