Sydney Swans academy kept Callum Mills in the code
BEING able to stay at home in Sydney was a massive influence on young star Callum Mills when he chose Aussie rules and the Swans as a teenager.
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SYDNEY Swans young gun Callum Mills is proof of why the under-fire academy system works, and why the AFL needs it to stay.
Mills believes Sydney’s two AFL clubs need a direct pathway through their academies if they are going to compete with rival codes for the best young talent.
The first-year midfielder says the chance to stay at home in Sydney was a big influence when he chose Aussie rules over rugby union as a teenager.
“It has been a massive influence for me because of the pathway,” Mills told The Saturday Telegraph.
“If you look at rugby league clubs they have a direct connection to players. In Sydney you have to have that direct connection.
“It was important to the Swans and it’s an important reason why people pick AFL.”
Mills is the first Sydney born and bred player to be taken in the top 10 of the national draft. The Swans used pick three to snare the talented defender, who has slotted in seamlessly to Sydney’s backline.
The instant success of the 19-year-old Swans academy graduate has been used by Collingwood president Eddie McGuire to question whether Sydney’s academy is giving the club an unfair recruiting advantage over Victorian teams.
McGuire this week turned his attention to the GWS Giants academy and the potential potency of their connection with the Riverina.
Mills says he wasn’t surprised by the timing of McGuire’s remarks coming on the back of the Giants’ 75-point win over triple premiers Hawthorn.
“The comments tend to only happen when the Swans and Giants are playing well,” Mills said.
“You can’t say the academies are doing anything wrong because they have been great for boys in NSW who want to play AFL.
“You only have to live here to see that. They have been amazing for both the Swans and Giants.”
While the Swans academy played a major role in Mills’ development he also admits he wouldn’t be part of the Bloods without his mum’s support.
His mother Simone is a regular at the SCG and throughout his junior career, a win against Essendon at the SCG today would provide a mother’s day present a day ahead.
“Mum has been massive to me,” Mills said.
“I definitely wouldn’t be where I am in life without her. She’s a massive support to me and has done a lot of travel over the years to footy and from it. It’s good that there is a day which recognises the work that all mothers do. I’m glad to have the mum I have and what she’s done for me is amazing.”
Callum shares his mum’s love of animals and is happy to help out looking after a wide variety on their five acres in Terry Hills.
“Mum is a massive animal person,” Callum said.
“There’s chickens, dogs, cats and horses so there’s a lot. When mum and dad go away I have to feed every animal on the planet, mum loves looking after the animals.”
Mills is signed to the Swans till the end of 2018 and follows in the footsteps of fellow academy product Isaac Heeney from Newcastle.
Originally published as Sydney Swans academy kept Callum Mills in the code
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