Player Watch #14 Callum Mills (c)

Kennedy Parker · Feb 7, 2021

Callum Mills

Callum Mills 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 and Dane Rampe, as well as Lance Franklin.

Callum Mills
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

Dubai Quacker · Monday at 11:45 AM

Callum Mills and Sam Reid walk into a bar.

{insert injury related punch line here}

LukeParkerno1 · Monday at 11:45 AM

Dubai Quacker said:
Callum Mills and Sam Reid walk into a bar.

{insert injury related punch line here}

That depends is Konstanty there lol

Millky95 · Monday at 11:50 AM

Dubai Quacker said:
Callum Mills and Sam Reid walk into a bar.

{insert injury related punch line here}

Mills, Reid and Rampe try to jump a fence chain...

The Blue Max · Monday at 1:05 PM

Dubai Quacker said:
Callum Mills and Sam Reid walk into a bar.

{insert injury related punch line here}

They both slip on a beer spill and are out for the season.

Bonz · Monday at 1:58 PM

Everyone here is saying Mills got injured due to off-season stupidity.

Outside of the arm injury done wrestling on Mad Monday (Ok yes stupidity, but won't be the last player who gets an injury from this). I don't think his injuries have been out of stupidity, I know he hurt himself in 2018 throwing an American football but lots of players play other sports (Many play cricket in off season, let alone those who play basketball or Golf).

The injury this time was an training accident, from what I have gathered an awkward fall from a tackle (something that seems more bad luck and can affect anyone).

Think a few of us are being way too harsh on him here.

JackHiscoxWasFast · Monday at 2:15 PM

He’s cooked like a well done Angus.
Body not up to it. Old man injuries.
Some of us called this out ages ago but were lambasted at even suggesting it.

Facts not emotion.

I expect zero this year, anything else is a bonus. Use him exclusively down back or he’ll get injured again.

Oh and on the captain stuff, couldn’t hold a candle to Kirk.

zyzzbruh · Monday at 2:26 PM

JackHiscoxWasFast said:
He’s cooked like a well done Angus.
Body not up to it. Old man injuries.
Some of us called this out ages ago but were lambasted at even suggesting it.

Facts not emotion.

I expect zero this year, anything else is a bonus. Use him exclusively down back or he’ll get injured again.

Oh and on the captain stuff, couldn’t hold a candle to Kirk.

He's clearly genetically prone to copping soft tissue injuries, it's scientifically proven that certain statistically significant genetic factors come into play in avoiding injury vs being prone. His body is clearly just not built for this caper, it is what it is, he'll be lucky to make it to 200 games.

kickthething · Monday at 3:40 PM

zyzzbruh said:
He's clearly genetically prone to copping soft tissue injuries, it's scientifically proven that certain statistically significant genetic factors come into play in avoiding injury vs being prone. His body is clearly just not built for this caper, it is what it is, he'll be lucky to make it to 200 games.

If the club has identified genetic shortcomings relating to soft tissue injuries, then as with all the Sports science hand they should be able to ( possibly do) design a program tailored directly to his genetic profile to avoid this injuries. Everything in 2025 is largely manageable so being genetically prone, which people can be, is not a restrictive element, but the key role of SS to get the program right for each player.

Freak accidents happen, and no amount of planning can cover that. That in itself has no relation to genetically prone issues.

Citrus22 · Monday at 4:03 PM

He's played 174 games over 10 seasons, so that's 17.4 games a season. Granted his last two years have been rough (still played 7 games in 2024 and 12 this year) but given one was from an off field incident you can hardly call the man injury prone. It's all a bit overblown imo.

Bonz · Monday at 4:16 PM

JackHiscoxWasFast said:
He’s cooked like a well done Angus.
Body not up to it. Old man injuries.
Some of us called this out ages ago but were lambasted at even suggesting it.

Facts not emotion.

I expect zero this year, anything else is a bonus. Use him exclusively down back or he’ll get injured again.

Oh and on the captain stuff, couldn’t hold a candle to Kirk.

A hamstring strain caused by an awkward fall isn't an old person injury. That comes down to bad luck.

Neither is a tear to the plantar fasciitis (very common injury, in fact Robert Harvey had this and had an incredible career after it). This can lead to tears (which is what happened to Mills on 2025). These injuries are usually caused by overtraining which makes sense as I think it was mismanaged by the club and Callum trying to prove himself.

Nor Achilles tendonitis (in fact I'm suffering from it currently) (his injury from 2021 to 2022). This affects a lot of athletes.

The injury that gets most older athletes are calf strains (which can be nasty to come back from if not managed correctly), he got one when increasing his load in 2024, but this hasn't re-occured and he bounced back very quickly from it.

zyzzbruh · Monday at 7:09 PM

Bonz said:
A hamstring strain caused by an awkward fall isn't an old person injury. That comes down to bad luck.

Neither is a tear to the plantar fasciitis (very common injury, in fact Robert Harvey had this and had an incredible career after it). This can lead to tears (which is what happened to Mills on 2025). These injuries are usually caused by overtraining which makes sense as I think it was mismanaged by the club and Callum trying to prove himself.

Nor Achilles tendonitis (in fact I'm suffering from it currently) (his injury from 2021 to 2022). This affects a lot of athletes.

The injury that gets most older athletes are calf strains (which can be nasty to come back from if not managed correctly), he got one when increasing his load in 2024, but this hasn't re-occured and he bounced back very quickly from it.

Dunno he's literally done every muscle in his body at routine stages during his career, just seems to pop em a bit too easily.

An awkward fall is also a completely whack way to do a hammy, again not the norm, I just can't fathom how a falling motion would place more strain on the hamstring than full extension high speed running.

Some bodies just don't synthesise collagen as well as others, i suspect the Reid's had a similar predicament, and I worry Amartey does too. Mills is well and truly injury prone, all that's left is for him to pull is his third leg.

Dubai Quacker · Monday at 7:28 PM

zyzzbruh said:
Dunno he's literally done every muscle in his body at routine stages during his career, just seems to pop em a bit too easily.

An awkward fall is also a completely whack way to do a hammy, again not the norm, I just can't fathom how a falling motion would place more strain on the hamstring than full extension high speed running.

Some bodies just don't synthesise collagen as well as others, i suspect the Reid's had a similar predicament, and I worry Amartey does too. Mills is well and truly injury prone, all that's left is for him to pull is his third leg.

Body not synthesising collagen.

Haven’t heard that one before - but perhaps a trade to Essendon is in order. I’m sure they have an injection that’ll fix it.

SwansLakeside · Monday at 7:34 PM

It's a fantasy that Callum will get anywhere near the mids. He's a half-back. If we want him on the field.

First pre-season contact drill. Got tackled, and did a hammy..

Close watch now on Tom Papley, Joel Amartey and JMac.

zyzzbruh · Monday at 8:01 PM

Dubai Quacker said:
Body not synthesising collagen.

Haven’t heard that one before - but perhaps a trade to Essendon is in order. I’m sure they have an injection that’ll fix it.

Win win, would free up some salary for the playing squad that's practically being spent on a inspirational assistant coach.

Bonz · Monday at 8:16 PM

zyzzbruh said:
Dunno he's literally done every muscle in his body at routine stages during his career, just seems to pop em a bit too easily.

An awkward fall is also a completely whack way to do a hammy, again not the norm, I just can't fathom how a falling motion would place more strain on the hamstring than full extension high speed running.

Some bodies just don't synthesise collagen as well as others, i suspect the Reid's had a similar predicament, and I worry Amartey does too. Mills is well and truly injury prone, all that's left is for him to pull is his third leg.

One of the most common ways to do a hamstring or adductor is to stretch it in a way it is not used to moving.

Slipping is a common way to do this (Sadly know from experience).

Slight hyper extension of the leg and muscles whilst falling from being tacked? Yeah can cause a hamstring strain. It's exactly how the club statement reads "Mills was tackled in a contested drill and fell awkwardly,".

Mills doesn't have a history of soft tissue injuries, he has a history of injury and a some of it can be down to bad luck/ outside factors (Wrestling, breaking his foot from slipping whilst catching an American football from a cafe).

His done his calf once and his hamstring rushing back last year (both can be attributed to rushing rehab and putting too much load through his legs) whilst rehabbing his rotator cuff.

This year, it wasn't muscle strains that sidelined him, it was a tear to his plantar fascia (which is common to people who have had plantar fasciitis).

Mills isn't regularly doing the same injury over and over again (Like Sam Reid), collagen synthesis occurs post injury through fibroblast activation so is unlikely in this case as they are not reoccurances.

Not sure if it is the same hamstring he strained last year, but that was a very minor strain and he hasn't done it running, jumping or kicking a football.

bedford · Monday at 8:17 PM

Bonz said:
One of the most common ways to do a hamstring or adductor is to stretch it in a way it is not used to moving.

Slipping is a common way to do this (Sadly know from experience).

Slight hyper extension of the leg and muscles whilst falling from being tacked? Yeah can cause a hamstring strain. It's exactly how the club statement reads "Mills was tackled in a contested drill and fell awkwardly,".

Mills doesn't have a history of soft tissue injuries, he has a history of injury and a some of it can be down to bad luck/ outside factors (Wrestling, breaking his foot from slipping whilst catching an American football from a cafe).

His done his calf once and his hamstring rushing back last year (both can be attributed to rushing rehab and putting too much load through his legs) whilst rehabbing his rotator cuff.

This year, it wasn't muscle strains that sidelined him, it was a tear to his plantar fascia (which is common to people who have had plantar fasciitis).

Mills isn't regularly doing the same injury over and over again (Like Sam Reid), collagen synthesis occurs post injury through fibroblast activation.

Not sure if it is the same hamstring he strained last year, but that was a very minor strain and he hasn't done it running, jumping or kicking a football.

Do any of these people actually read what you post

Bonz · Monday at 8:20 PM

SwansLakeside said:
It's a fantasy that Callum will get anywhere near the mids. He's a half-back. If we want him on the field.

First pre-season contact drill. Got tackled, and did a hammy..

Close watch now on Tom Papley, Joel Amartey and JMac.

Papley and Amartey have done time with Bill Knowles who is an industry leader (with a focus on looks like body movement/ knowledge, core activation, flexibility and all round body strength).

I have very high hopes on them, Mcdonald and Edwards.

He also would cost an arm and a leg (and possibly a lung).

Bonz · Monday at 8:21 PM

bedford said:
Do any of these people actually read what you post

Up to them if they do or they don't

I'm just sharing the knowledge I have.

LukeParkerno1 · Monday at 8:45 PM

Bonz said:
Papley and Amartey have done time with Bill Knowles who is an industry leader (with a focus on looks like body movement/ knowledge, core activation, flexibility and all round body strength).

I have very high hopes on them, Mcdonald and Edwards.

He also would cost an arm and a leg (and possibly a lung).

Well proof will be in the pudding here our injury prevention or lack of was a massive reason for our drop off since mid ‘24. Should be using the resources in Germany for soft tissue prevention

bedford · Monday at 8:47 PM

LukeParkerno1 said:
Well proof will be in the pudding here our injury prevention or lack of was a massive reason for our drop off since mid ‘24. Should be using the resources in Germany for soft tissue prevention

As easy as that lol

zyzzbruh · Monday at 9:33 PM

Bonz said:
One of the most common ways to do a hamstring or adductor is to stretch it in a way it is not used to moving.

Slipping is a common way to do this (Sadly know from experience).

Slight hyper extension of the leg and muscles whilst falling from being tacked? Yeah can cause a hamstring strain. It's exactly how the club statement reads "Mills was tackled in a contested drill and fell awkwardly,".

Mills doesn't have a history of soft tissue injuries, he has a history of injury and a some of it can be down to bad luck/ outside factors (Wrestling, breaking his foot from slipping whilst catching an American football from a cafe).

His done his calf once and his hamstring rushing back last year (both can be attributed to rushing rehab and putting too much load through his legs) whilst rehabbing his rotator cuff.

This year, it wasn't muscle strains that sidelined him, it was a tear to his plantar fascia (which is common to people who have had plantar fasciitis).

Mills isn't regularly doing the same injury over and over again (Like Sam Reid), collagen synthesis occurs post injury through fibroblast activation so is unlikely in this case as they are not reoccurances.

Not sure if it is the same hamstring he strained last year, but that was a very minor strain and he hasn't done it running, jumping or kicking a football.

I hope you are right, all sounds good and well but the fact that your whole post lists every single ailment in the medical dictionary isn't something that fills me with much confidence. How can he be that unlucky especially given a lot were innocuous incidents. Then there's blokes like Jack Crisp who's played 700 games in a row and can't buy an injury in the heat of the battle.

JackHiscoxWasFast · Monday at 9:56 PM

For those old enough to remember the wired world of sports (12th man), Cal is the Rick Disneck of the swans.

Nuggetz · Monday at 10:42 PM

omg this is nuts lol

Dubai Quacker · Monday at 11:21 PM

JackHiscoxWasFast said:
For those old enough to remember the wired world of sports (12th man), Cal is the Rick Disneck of the swans.

I can just imagine Errol asking how it happened…

“Errrr, no Errol, I just f***ed up”

Anyway, better to be Rick Disneck than Anna Bolic.
Especially with those tight AFL shorts.

JackHiscoxWasFast · Monday at 11:23 PM

Dubai Quacker said:
I can just imagine Errol asking how it happened…

“Errrr, no Errol, I just f***ed up”

Anyway, better to be Rick Disneck than Anna Bolic.
Especially with those tight AFL shorts.

Funniest part was after he went through about 10 major injuries he concludes with “… and suffered minor bruising to my body”

lol re Anna “her costume”.

Great times.

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