John Longmire backs Callum Mills to have strong return from Mad Monday shoulder injury for Sydney Swans

Despite a regrettable incident on Mad Monday that will cause Callum Mills to miss half the 2024 season, coach John Longmire is not hesitating in backing the co-captain as a leader of the club.

John Longmire has thrown his support behind co-captain Callum Mills after his Mad Monday shoulder injury last year. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Sydney Swans co-captain Callum Mills is set to retain his leadership role as he makes strong progress in rehabilitation from his torn rotator cuff.

Mills suffered the shoulder injury during a Mad Monday incident where he was wrestling with teammate Jacob Konstanty at a Surry Hills pub.

The midfielder has been one of the most active members at Swans HQ this pre-season, working tirelessly in the gym on rehab exercises while also regularly interacting with coaches and players from the sidelines at training.

While there’s no change to the 26-year-old’s estimated return halfway through the 2024 season, his coach John Longmire paid tribute to his determination to get back on the field as soon as possible.

Mills has been an active observer in Swans training alongside new GM of footy Leon Cameron. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“It’s not surprising though,” Longmire said of Mills’ dedication. “I’ve known Callum for a long time and though it was unfortunate what it was, he’s a very strong leader and that won’t change.

“What he’s able to do, how he thinks about the team, how he wants nothing but success for the footy club and he’s getting better at that as he gets older and more experienced.”

It’s not the first unusual injury in Mills’ career after he broke his foot while throwing around a mini NFL ball in the Moore Park area in 2018.

However, Mills has long been touted as a future stand-alone captain of the Swans.

He joined the club’s leadership group as a 21-year-old and became a co-captain in 2022. With his fellow co-captains Dane Rampe and Luke Parker aged 33 and 31 respectively, Mills is the obvious choice if the Swans look to rejuvenate their leadership group in the coming years.

Longmire also believes this latest incident could bring the best out of the Academy product and help make him an even better captain as a result.

“This is another experience that he can add to his file,” Longmire said. “Whether they’re all good, bad or otherwise, they’re experiences.

“He’s a terrific person to have at the footy club and he’ll continue to work with coaches and the playing group until he gets back to being able to have an impact on the ground.

“But he’ll certainly have an impact regardless of that anyway.”

The 26-year-old is set to be a key member of the Swans’ leadership group for many years to come. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The Swans returned to training last week after the New Year break and have ramped up their preparations for the season opener against Melbourne on March 7 at the SCG.

Mills is one of the only major injury concerns at the club with Longmire boasting a healthy list compared to the same point last year.

The squad will take part in a four-day pre-season camp in Coffs Harbour from January 28 as part of several initiatives designed to have them ready to start their campaign a week earlier than usual.

“It’s bought things forward a little bit … so we’re trying to get forward in our program,” Longmire said of the Opening Round.

“We don’t have the bye the week before the season starts. We’ll go from two practice games straight into the season and then we’ve got a bye early on.

“There are some things that we’ll have to work around. But I think we’re all looking forward to that, getting into the start of the season and preparing between now and then as best we can every day.

“If we do that every day, the season will unfold and we’ll see how we go.”

Originally published as John Longmire backs Callum Mills to have strong return from Mad Monday shoulder injury for Sydney Swans