Callum Mills 150 games: Star Sydney Swans AFL player reflects on career

Callum Mills arrived at Sydney with big wraps and even touted as a future captain. Then one run in with a Sydney veteran taught him all he needed to know about the big time.

One of John Longmire’s first interactions with now Swans co-captain Callum Mills was when the Academy product came into his office as a 16-year-old.

A rising talent in Sydney’s system, it was clear that Mills was destined for success. But Longmire could already sense there was someone special sitting in front of him.

“I remember him coming into my office and asking questions about our game plan,” Longmire said.

“He walked out, and I walked into Tom Harley’s office and said, ‘This kid will captain the footy club one day’.

“He just had it written all over him and he was just such a massive competitor. And he’s been everything and more since he’s come through the system.”

While Mills’ recollection of that specific meeting is a bit shaky, his first impression of Longmire was different.

Longmire has had a big influence on the trajectory of Mills’ career. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“I was very daunted by him, he’s a very intimidating figure, especially when you’re a young kid,” Mills said.

“But he’s had the biggest impact on my career and even off-field as well. He’s been an incredible mentor.”

Those early meetings put Mills on the right path as this Saturday he will celebrate his 150-game milestone against Essendon.

The 26-year-old has developed into one of the competition’s elite midfielders, earning All-Australian honours last season as the Swans made it to the grand final.

And while his eight seasons in the AFL may have gone quickly, he’s always remembered the importance of the Academy pathways that helped him get there — particularly when he put on a tough tackle on then-captain, Jarrad McVeigh

An early run in with McVeigh while Mills was still in the Academy set him on the right path. Picture. Phil Hillyard

“I also remember getting a big elbow back (from McVeigh) into my throat,” Mills said.

“I learned you’re not meant to tackle hard in drills. I was quite young and overexcited to be able to train with the big dogs.

“One minute you’re a teenager and there are people retiring and they tell you that it goes quick, and you sit there and go, ‘Yeah whatever mate, you’re just old. But it turns out that they’re right.

“I think the most important part [of the Academy] is that it gives kids a pathway to play AFL. If that’s not there, the opportunity to play rugby and so many other sports in NSW, because they’re prominent, is an easy choice.”

The success of players like Mills and fellow Academy graduates including Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey and Errol Gulden shows that the Swans’ investment has been worthwhile.

But to Mills’ credit, he has always left no stone unturned to become the best version of himself. That’s why it was an easy choice to make him a co-captain of the club alongside Dane Rampe and Luke Parker last year.

Mills is looking forward to helping lead the club into the future. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“I’m sure if I told my eight-year-old self, he’d be looking at me thinking it was pretty cool,” Mills said of his leadership promotion.

“We’ve obviously got a pretty young list and I’m kinda seen as an old guy now … I’m only 26. But being able to relate to them, that’s what I’ve had in good leaders in the past.

“Joey Kennedy has been a really big role model as well. I still speak to him frequently, he calls, asks how I’m going and checks in.

“The younger guys are the future of the footy club. And the better we can equip them … the better the club will be going forward.”

While 2023 hasn’t been the season Mills wanted, particularly when he was sidelined for over a month with a calf injury, he has full faith in the club to help him achieve the one main goal he has left in his career: win premierships.

“We were really close last year and that hurt quite a bit,” Mills said. “But that’s why we play this game.

“When you’re the captain of a club, you put all your eggs in the basket to try one day to win a premiership.

“I just want to be the best teammate I can be, whatever position that means is something I’m more than happy to do.

“I think Swans members can see the young core we’re trying to keep together along this journey … through that period there will be fluctuations. That happens with youth.

“It’s a long journey, but it’s exciting. And I think we’re on our way to playing some good footy together.”

Originally published as Callum Mills 150 games: Star Sydney Swans AFL player reflects on career