Callum Mills’ AFL Rising Star win proves worth of Sydney Swans talent academy

ANALYSIS: Callum Mills is a poster boy for all that’s right about the northern talent academies and Bulldog runner-up Caleb Daniel is still a winner, writes SAM LANDSBERGER.

Callum Mills at age 15.

CALLUM Mills had to create history to win the Rising Star.

Since the inaugural award in 1993, no player had been crowned the best player of the season without recognition in the first 14 rounds.

Mills polled the maximum five votes from nine of the 10 Rising Star judges — only Cameron Ling ranked Bulldog Caleb Daniel ahead of him — to poll 49 of a possible 50 votes, the same total Jesse Hogan won with last year.

Sydney’s third Rising Star winner — following Adam Goodes (2003) and Dan Hannebery (2010) — will now turn his attention to winning a premiership.

Mills had to wait for his nomination until Round 16, when he shone under the Friday night lights in Geelong.

He missed his brother’s wedding in the US that night but did not miss a beat across half-back.

It was a big-stage performance littered with courageous marks and intercepting dominance that helped justified all the pre-draft rage.

Callum Mills in action against Collingwood. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Callum Mills playing for NSW-ACT in 2014.

Caleb Daniel finished runner-up, the Western Bulldogs’ second bridesmaid in three years and third in the award’s history.

Their draft tales couldn’t have been more conflicting. Mills was the gun junior who every club wanted but only the Swans had access to.

Daniel was also a gun junior, but at 167cm he was one every club had access to but only the Dogs wanted.

The runner-up finish won’t diminish the Dogs hopes for their pint-sized star. Ryan Griffen (2005) and Marcus Bontempelli (2014) went on to become All-Australians and club captains after missing out on the main prize.

The Bulldogs have had won the most Rising Star nominations in the past four years, a credit to the shrewd recruiting under Simon Dalrymple and list chief Jason McCartney.

Sydney’s academy guns Callum Mills and Isaac Heeney. Picture. Phil Hillyard

But this was about Mills, a poster boy for so much that is right about the controversial talent academies.

Since 2013, recruiting circles have been abuzz with talk the Swans — a constant in the premiership race — were waiting to secure academy standouts in Isaac Heeney and Mills.

Mills played Auskick but was then coaxed into rugby union, spending his junior days as a five-eighth.

Swans academy coach Mark Drinkwater persuaded him back and the club groomed a talent that otherwise would have been lost to another sport.

Mills helped grow the draft pool and the Swans paid a fair price to secure him, matching Melbourne’s bid of the No. 3 draft pick last year.

Callum Mills with mum Simone at the family property at Terry Hills. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Has a teenager ever produced a more impressive debut season for the minor premier?

Hard to think of one. What makes Mills’ feats this year even more impressive is the fact he grew up dominating in the midfield.

Swans coach John Longmire wanted Mills in his best 22 this year, but there was no place in an engine room flush with All-Australians.

So Longmire moved his magnet to the backline, a new role for Mills and one he flourished at.

Champion Data rated Mills elite for intercept possessions and intercept marks, a tribute to his overflowing courage.