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

 

[Adnico26Parker]

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

 

[The King!]

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.

I think for a change during the year it would need to at least appear to be his call.

 

[The King!]

View attachment 2268976

Heeney

 

[MF]

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

Yeah chronic soft tissue injuries at this stage of his career are not a good sign. Give him this season then make a call at seasons end on the captaincy though I think. It's not like there's clear standouts to take it right now, whereas in another 6 months there might be.

 

[SeanM]

If there is no obvious replacement as sole captain. I think it is easier to keep mills as captain. And just let one of the vice captains lead the team each week.

Guys like Heeney and Papley may not even want to take over the role permanently. And I am not sure I would want to change things mid season.

 

[Deccas]

The bright side is when he does get back (round 8-10 I reckon) he'll feel like a new player.

We've still never seen the Heeney mills midfield combo I've been waiting for since I heard mills was hot shit in his draft year.

Hopefully we are able to give Heeney some weeks here and there and have a fresh lost for the finals.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

From today's presser:

"The thing with Callum is he's turned the corner dramatically the last four or five days, he had a really good session on Tuesday on the training deck and pulled up really well.

"He has had a tough two years, so for him, he understands what he's got to do, now it's just about hopefully his body allowing him to do that."

 

[The King!]

From today's presser:

"The thing with Callum is he's turned the corner dramatically the last four or five days, he had a really good session on Tuesday on the training deck and pulled up really well.

"He has had a tough two years, so for him, he understands what he's got to do, now it's just about hopefully his body allowing him to do that."

Unfortunately he twisted his ankle going around the corner so dramatically and is now 4-6 weeks further away.

 

[Callipygian]

Unfortunately he twisted his ankle going around the corner so dramatically and is now 4-6 weeks further away.

Wicked. But funny. But wicked.

 

[The King!]

When’s he actually back, we need him fit and firing

 

[McRobie]

Don’t want to see him rushed back and perform like a VFL player ala last year.

 

[The King!]

Don’t want to see him rushed back and perform like a VFL player ala last year.

Exactly so if he is 3 weeks away he is really 5 minimum after a few VFL games

 

[SGBeach]

Exactly so if he is 3 weeks away he is really 5 minimum after a few VFL games

He's 1-2 weeks away.
Had a big pre-season up until the injury and is the sort of player that can come straight in and still contribute in a needed role while getting his timing back.
So due back round 7 v Suns who have a pretty bloody good midfield, or round 8 v GWS.. Both teams will run him off his feet.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

He's 1-2 weeks away.
Had a big pre-season up until the injury and is the sort of player that can come straight in and still contribute in a needed role while getting his timing back.
So due back round 7 v Suns who have a pretty bloody good midfield, or round 8 v GWS.. Both teams will run him off his feet.

He was a passenger when he came back but we could carry him since for the most part we were 3 games clear but was definitely the weak link.

 

[SGBeach]

He was a passenger when he came back but we could carry him since for the most part we were 3 games clear but was definitely the weak link.

Yep, but he was playing mostly half back. His timing was clearly out.
I think Cox has him ear marked for an inside mid spot. Reckon we need a bigger, tougher, determined, relentless body in there.. at least to free up Heeney more.
If all he does is crack in, then he'll be a positive. And given a couple of games, hes likely to be better than that

 

[zyzzbruh]

1. Has to get back
2. Has to get back fit
3. Has to find form
4. Has to not get injured again

It's been 2 years, and prior to that he was perpetually injured at least once a year. Flogging a dead horse.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Whenever he’s back he needs a month in the vfl finding top form it’s been 2 years since any form we tried this picking on past performances last year how did that go..

 

[Slingshot Footy]

Yep, but he was playing mostly half back. His timing was clearly out.
I think Cox has him ear marked for an inside mid spot. Reckon we need a bigger, tougher, determined, relentless body in there.. at least to free up Heeney more.
If all he does is crack in, then he'll be a positive. And given a couple of games, hes likely to be better than that

If Mills offers nothing except for brief relief for the likes of Heeney, Chad and Rowbottom the first few weeks then you'd take that. The first half of our season is about conservation and load management until all of our injured players are back into reasonable form.

I know it's cliché but Cox is right in that we really do have to view things from a squad mentality. It's the only way we can have a positive outlook towards the finals at the moment.

 

[rustycrate]

If he offers nothing except for brief relief for the likes of Heeney, Chad and Rowbottom the first few weeks then you'd take that. The first half of our season is about conservation and load management until all of our injured players are back into reasonable form.

I know it's cliché but Cox is right in that we really do have to view things from a squad mentality. It's the only way we can have a positive outlook towards the finals at the moment.

I agree with the squad mentality.
Mills should come back through the VFL and provide a formline.
Chad should be rested if he indeed has a rib injury.
Cunningham needs a game in the VFL to prove he is back or more.

These types of decisions should be non negotiables.

Even Gulden should have a run in the VFL to erase the rust and prove he is firing on all cylinders.

We need to be fit and ripe for finals. Which in recent memory, we have never been.

 

[McGowan3]

The bright side is when he does get back (round 8-10 I reckon) he'll feel like a new player.

We've still never seen the Heeney mills midfield combo I've been waiting for since I heard mills was hot shit in his draft year.

Hopefully we are able to give Heeney some weeks here and there and have a fresh lost for the finals.

Fully fit and uninjured, he is a gun either down back or as an inside/outside mid. Let's all hope he and Heeney can get a real run at it together over the next couple of years. It would really elevate us.

 

[Olian]

1. Has to get back
2. Has to get back fit
3. Has to find form
4. Has to not get injured again

It's been 2 years, and prior to that he was perpetually injured at least once a year. Flogging a dead horse.

Perpetually injured?
Outside of 2018 where he only played 7 games and last year, he’s only missed 10 games in 7 seasons.

Not sure who is flogging the dead horse.

 

[rustycrate]

He was a passenger when he came back but we could carry him since for the most part we were 3 games clear but was definitely the weak link.

reackon he won't play for a month. He will come back through the reserves.

 

[The King!]

People have forgotten how good he was and consistent prior to last years injury, he isn't captain by accident

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

People have forgotten how good he was and consistent prior to last years injury, he isn't captain by accident

Was that his 2022 year mate? unfortunately 3 years is a longg time in someone career

 

[The King!]

Was that his 2022 year mate? unfortunately 3 years is a longg time in someone career

he was good in 2023
missed 24 until the end and now it's early 25.

Remember the final v Carlton, Last game v Dees etc in 23 he was one of our best.

Some of his last few games in 2023 below.