AFL injury news: Swans captain Callum Mills to make AFL return against North Melbourne

If you thought the Swans’ midfield was formidable already, look away — Callum Mills is set to come straight back in for Sydney against North Melbourne.

Sydney's Callum Mills during the Sydney Swans training session at the SCG on July 3, 2024.. Photo by Brett Costello (Image Supplied for Editorial Use only – **NO ON SALES** – ©Brett Costello )

Sydney Swans captain Callum Mills will make his long-awaited return this weekend in the club’s AFL match against North Melbourne.

Despite not playing a professional game since Sydney’s elimination final loss to Carlton last year, Mills will be brought straight back into AFL level as John Longmire looks to stem the Swans’ two-game losing streak.

Mills injured his shoulder during a Mad Monday incident last year, tearing his rotator cuff completely off the bone. While the rehabilitation for that injury progressed well, several soft-tissue concerns pushed back his return.

The 27-year-old is set to play regardless of Isaac Heeney’s success at the Tribunal. Initially, there was some thought that Mills would return via the VFL much like Taylor Adams and Luke Parker in their respective injury returns to build up match fitness.

However, Longmire confirmed that the captain has progressed strongly in his training block, but wouldn’t provide any insight into where the skipper would line-up.

Longmire confirmed that Mills will come straight back into the Swans’ AFL side for the clash against North Melbourne. Picture: Brett Costello

“Callum Mills will definitely play senior footy this week,” Longmire said.

“We sat down at the bye and worked out a six week plan to figure out what he needed to do in a football running sense. He’s been doing that well before that. He’s had a really good block so back in the team this week.

“Regardless of what happens at the tribunal, Millsy will come back in. We’ve gone through all the numbers until the cows come home. All that’s done is back up our eyes which is what we’ve seen him work at in training sessions. He’s done an enormous amount of work and feel really confident and he knows himself as good as anyone.”

Parker is also available for selection this weekend after serving his six-match suspension for a bump in the VFL. Longmire, however, was more coy on whether the Sydney veteran would also return via the senior side, suggesting that getting game time into the 32-year-old will again be the priority after nearly two months on the sidelines.

It means Mills will get his first chance to lead the side out as sole captain against North Melbourne on Saturday. While he’s set to play an important role in the contest, Longmire knows getting a key leader back is vital for the run home.

“We could have won both games (in the past fortnight),” Longmire said. “But we’ve had two captains that haven’t played a game all year and what are we up to, round 18?”

“That’s brought opportunities to the rest of our playing group where we think we’ve in general stood up pretty well. It’s been good for our development across the board but in the end, it’ll be great to have Callum back this week.”

Originally published as AFL injury news: Swans captain Callum Mills to make AFL return against North Melbourne