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

33

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

35

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

 

[Kbroome]

I reckon he should

Should be…

 

[Millky95]

I reckon he should

Should be…

Well he did win an AA jumper playing there

 

[Kiama Chris]

Well he did win an AA jumper playing there

100%. Absolutely no reason he can't play the majority of ToG in the midfield but drop back to play as an extra in defence if the oppos get a run on. Like Heeney, Warner and Gulden can all play forward at times. Rowie and Gus as well. Lloyd, McInerney and Campbell often drop back.
We need to be thoughtful and a bit clever about roles and how best to use people in different circumstances.

 

[Tedeski]

If he was a part of the midfield on GF day 2022 then keep him the hell away from there & plant him down back.
Wasn't he responsible for Selwood that day?

 

[Millky95]

If he was a part of the midfield on GF day 2022 then keep him the hell away from there & plant him down back.
Wasn't he responsible for Selwood that day?

Parker was. Mills did the job earlier in the year

Or that was Dangerfield

 

[MF]

Should be…

Played in that position

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

As much as I’d love it, not convinced Mills body is up to being an inside bull / extractor. Give it a crack for sure but if it doesn’t work, he’s great down back.

 

[KTT]

Would love to see Mills playing full time mid. Likely McDonald drops back as a spare when needed.
Mills could play the Rowbottom role (more defensive), but play it more like Dunkley does at the Lions.

I dont think theres room for Mills, Rowbottom and Jordan(tagging) running through the midfield playing defensive roles.. I reckon Mills is the best player out of those three and am hoping hes first choice
Mills, Heeney and Warner as starting inside mids, and Jordan, Rowbottom, Gulden, JMac, Gus, Paps etc running through would be pretty strong and very dynamic

 

[Wheresbuddy]

We were short at least one A grade on baller in 2025. If we are to be any chance, Mills has to play on ball from R1 at his AA level. He will have more of a say in our 2026 season than Curnow.

 

[Jack2Jack]

If he could return to his 21-23 form he could be the bigger addition to the team than Charlie.
Will the footy gods ever let the midfield of Errol, Callum, Chad, Isaac & Brodie be fit and firing at the same time though, that's the biggest question mark.
There will always be some injuries, but will they let those guys with the extended (potential/former/current) A graders group in Lizard, Paps & now Charlie be largely fit and firing together for more of the season than not?

We flew close to the sun in the first 14 weeks of 24 with most of them up and going, and **** it looked good, unfortunately for various reasons only Gulden, Warner & Heeney kept going beyond those first 14 weeks. Outside of that patch in the last 3 years we've really struggled to have more than 2-3 max of that group really in good form (or available even) at the same time.

 

[bedford]

If he could return to his 21-23 form he could be the bigger addition to the team than Charlie.
Will the footy gods ever let the midfield of Errol, Callum, Chad, Isaac & Brodie be fit and firing at the same time though, that's the biggest question mark.
There will always be some injuries, but will they let those guys with the extended (potential/former/current) A graders group in Lizard, Paps & now Charlie be largely fit and firing together for more of the season than not?

We flew close to the sun in the first 14 weeks of 24 with most of them up and going, and **** it looked good, unfortunately for various reasons only Gulden, Warner & Heeney kept going beyond those first 14 weeks. Outside of that patch in the last 3 years we've really struggled to have more than 2-3 max of that group really in good form (or available even) at the same time.

Good post

 

[Syd]

Mills has another Hamstring Injury and will miss 4 weeks* of training.

Swans skipper's awful run with injury continues

Two-year injury nightmare

www.nine.com.au

 

[Bonz]

Some notes from here -> https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/s...y/news-story/ad3187d15054155cb1479529c4f4f44b

Yes we are doing the hard yards for his body.

The Swans have also invested heavily in Mills’ attempts to get his body right. On numerous occasions, he has been to Aspetar, a world-leading sports medicine hospital in Qatar, to help with his rehabilitation processes.

Confident it's not a big set back

Sydney is confident this latest setback shouldn’t disrupt their plans for Mills in 2026. After injuries defined their 2025 campaign, Mills’ hamstring concern is also one of the only issues on their list as they prepare to head into the Christmas break with a relatively clean bill of health.

Mills to remain captain.

Despite suggestions from some commentators over the past 12 months, the club is also continuing to back Mills as their captain. While teammates such as Isaac Heeney

5

Isaac Heeney

Age

29

Ht

185cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

7.7

5star

M

4.9

5star

T

4.1

5star

CL

2.2

4star

D

14.3

3star

K

8.8

4star

HB

5.5

3star

M

4.8

4star

T

2.5

3star

CL

0.8

3star

D

10.4

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.4

4star

CL

0.8

3star

and Tom Papley

11

Tom Papley

Age

29

Ht

177cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

9.1

4star

HB

5.0

4star

M

3.7

4star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

12.3

3star

K

8.9

4star

HB

3.4

2star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.5

2star

G

2.4

5star

D

13.4

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.6

5star

are ready to fill in when required, and Errol Gulden is seen as a potential skipper down the track, Mills’ value as a natural leader means Sydney still believes he is the best man for the job.

 

[bedford]

Mills has another Hamstring Injury and will miss 4 weeks* of training.

Swans skipper's awful run with injury continues

Two-year injury nightmare

www.nine.com.au

Thanks Sandra

 

[rustycrate]

Should be…

a midfielder

 

[bloodsbigot]

A bumped Mills thread during preseason always has me rolling my eyes expecting another bizarre gardening accident or something.

 

[The Blue Max]

Old news.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

Not great news or a good sign. Hope they are being cautious.

 

[Kbroome]

a midfielder

Sadly think he is showing in most pre-seasons that his body isn't up to being a midfielder any more. Give him the general role off half back

 

[Tedeski]

We’ve seen his best.
It happens to some players.

 

[rustycrate]

We’ve seen his best.
It happens to some players.

Wait for Mills to prove you wrong.
Champions know how to defy critics.

 

[Wolfgang West]

Wait for Mills to prove you wrong.
Champions know how to defy critics.

Mills has never been a champion. Has he had the ability to be a champion ? Sure he has. Will he ever be a champion now ? No hope of him being bestowed with that title but he has his body and a pea brain to thank for that and this is coming from one of his biggest admirers. Play a full season of football and Captain his side to a premiership and your summation may have some merit.

 

[Tedeski]

Wait for Mills to prove you wrong.
Champions know how to defy critics.

I’m not a critic.
I’m a realist.
Mills is not a champion.
He’s a good player.

 

[rustycrate]

Mills has never been a champion. Has he had the ability to be a champion ? Sure he has. Will he ever be a champion now ? No hope of him being bestowed with that title but he has his body and a pea brain to thank for that and this is coming from one of his biggest admirers. Play a full season of football and Captain his side to a premiership and your summation may have some merit.

I would like to be proven right. Only because Sydney would be in a great position.

 

[Tedeski]

I would like to be proven right. Only because Sydney would be in a great position.

I agree with you there Rusty.