Parker and Mills a boon for Swans in big win over Kangaroos

Callum Mills toiled through plenty of dark moments in his long rehab from a Mad Monday wrestling match gone wrong. On Saturday, the sorriest chapter in his AFL career was officially closed as the Swans took another big leap forward.

It was an occasion 10 months in the making for the 27-year-old, who finally ran out onto the SCG for his first game as Sydney’s sole captain. For Luke Parker, it was only five months in the making, but no less special.

Callum Mills waves to the fans after Saturday’s win.Credit: Getty

The Swans returned to form after back-to-back defeats with a fearsome 79-point win over North Melbourne - their biggest victory of the year thus far, and a result that was all but assured just a few minutes into the second quarter.

But the real story was the long-awaited return of Mills and Parker, two club stalwarts who have had to sit on the sidelines and watch things happen without them. For very different reasons, too: Mills has had since last September to dwell on the shoulder injury that ruled him out of the first half of Sydney’s season, while Parker suffered the most substantial injury of his glittering career in pre-season, and then couldn’t get back into their team once he’d recovered, with a six-week suspension from a rare undisciplined act in the VFL prolonging his exile.

Both players were warmly welcomed back by the Swans faithful, and both were mobbed by their teammates when they kicked goals, as if it was the first of their careers.

“It was pretty special, wasn’t it?” said coach John Longmire.

“Those two guys were co-captains last year, and neither of them played a game this year. And what are we up to? Round 18.

Luke Parker celebrates after kicking his 200th goal - his first on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images

“Two things for that: the rest of the team has done a pretty good job whilst they’ve been out, but it was terrific to have them back in and the energy they gave the group today was outstanding. Sometimes their mere presence can make a difference. It was great to have them back in the team - really, really good.”

Mills blew out what he described as “natural cobwebs” in a match he said he simply wanted to get over and done with, such were his heightened emotions in the lead-up. His shoulder was tested and came through with flying colours.

“I was pretty low. Very low. It’s been a long time since [the injury] and I just thought, I’m gonna somehow find gold in it,” Mills said.

“It’s been a long journey, but the footy club has been super supportive, amazing for me personally. And the way the boys have gone about it, the maturity of the group, evolution of the group has been really awesome to see. As much as I’d love to be playing with them every week, it was awesome to see what they were doing and now to be back playing is even better.”

Parker was a late inclusion and entered the fray in the third quarter as the substitute, replacing Justin McInerney. He was clearly intent on making up for lost time, finishing with 13 disposals, four clearances, six tackles and two goals in little more than a term of football. The first was his 200th in the AFL.

“It was awesome to see the crowd get around him when he ran on as well,” Mills said. “I was actually here [as a fan] when he debuted as a sub in 2011. The crowd roared when he went on - it was almost like that again.”

Aside McInerney’s injury - a suspected PCL strain - it was close to a perfect afternoon for the Swans, who will welcome back Heeney for next weekend’s trip to the Gabba to face the Brisbane Lions.

SYDNEY SWANS
3.4 10.10 16.14 20.18 (138)
NORTH MELBOURNE
3.2 4.4 7.5 9.5 (59)

GOALS - Sydney Swans: McDonald 4, Papley 4, Warner 2, Amartey 2, McLean 2, Parker 2, Jordon, Grundy, Mills, Adams. North Melbourne: Larkey 3, Zurhaar 2, Pink 2, Ford, Simpkin

BEST - Sydney Swans: Papley, Gulden, Grundy, Lloyd. North Melbourne: Xerri, Zurhaar, Davies-Uniacke, McKercher

UMPIRES - O’Gorman, Toner, Adair, Fry

VENUE SCG