John Longmire says it was always a given that Callum Mills would one day become Sydney’s sole skipper, despite the midfielder questioning his leadership future after his Mad Monday injury.
Mills, Luke Parker and Dane Rampe had been co-captains for the past two seasons but the Swans announced on Tuesday that 26-year-old Mills would do the job on his own in 2024.
Rampe floated the possibility of he and Parker stepping down at the end of last season, with the decision to appoint Mills officially communicated to the playing group this week.
“I feel super privileged and honoured to be able to be sole captain of the footy club,” Mills said.
“It’s something I hold really close to my heart.”
Mills underwent surgery after damaging the rotator cuff on his left shoulder while wrestling a teammate in post-season celebrations last year.
The incident left Mills to fear the Swans could strip him of the co-captaincy as they plotted to improve on last season’s eighth-placed finish.
“It runs through your mind when you make mistakes,” Mills said.
“But I go back to the conversations I had with ‘Horse’ (Longmire), and the support I felt from the club, board down, was something that was quite reassuring.
“I think the fact is I’m human and I made a mistake but I’m not going to let it define me and be able to lead the group the best I can.”
The Swans will rotate the captaincy until Mills returns, likely around the mid-point of the season, and are still working to determine the make-up of their leadership group.
Premiership coach Longmire first identified Mills’ leadership potential when he was a teenager coming through the Swans’ Academy.
The Sydney product has remained a favourite of the coach’s since being taken with the third pick of the 2015 draft and making his senior debut the following year.
He has since played 155 games for the Swans and was an All-Australian in 2022. “I think everyone sort of expected at some point Callum was going to do the job (as sole captain),” Longmire said.
“I think that was probably an unspoken given amongst the playing group.”
The Mad Monday mishap did not shake Longmire’s faith. “His ability to be able to keep thinking of the team and how can we keep improving, is the thing that stands out,” Longmire said.
“In the end, that’s the thing that still stands out. We all make mistakes, we all learn.
“The ability for Callum to be able to go on this journey, we think is going to be ultimately in his captaincy a real learning experience. We’ve got absolute confidence that he already has been and will continue to be a fantastic leader for this footy club.”
Not since Josh Kennedy in 2018 has a sole captain led Sydney, but Mills did not foresee much of a change in his role.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a massive shift,” he said. “We’ve got a great mix of leaders, young and old, that I’m going to lean on. We’ll get the best out of each other.”
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah like tex is a little too big for BZT but he’s pretty good at bullying players that are smaller than him
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Yeah but the vice captains will fill that hole.
Windrince
Roar Rookie
They do just lose a bit of that on-field type leader though with the injury
Maxy
Roar Rookie
yeah,you guys had a good run,still waiting for my turn
Maxy
Roar Rookie
I hope so,I watched him against crows one game,he played on Taylor walker and played really well,if he can play on those types that roam a bit that would leave Aliir and Esava to maybe stay deeper down back and have better matchups etc
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
2007. The start of a happy few years.. decades?
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
BZT is under rated he will be good for Port. He can play tall or small without giving up too much height. He also came along in leaps and bounds at Essendon such that he was keeping Aaron Francis and Nik Cox out of the side
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
His criticism are incorrect except when they’re about freo whenever anyone is criticising freo they’re right
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
If you asked me a couple years ago whether mills would make a good captain I would vehemently disagree. It’s been a slow burn but Mills has shown his value to the swans system and has frequently sacrificed his game for that of the team.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Think Port beat cats at kadinia park a few weeks earlier that year,bit like Dogs v Port preliminary a couple of years ago Port played Dogs in melbourne think last round and the winner of that game grabbed a spot in the top 4 .Port won that game then played them at Adelaide oval in the final and got smashed :shocked:
Maxy
Roar Rookie
lol,speaking with a geelong person about it wont end well,lol
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I was embarrassed by that loss and I'm a Crows supporter. But not really because 2017 was such a bad year.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
You can come to my practice, I am sure I can help. :stoked:
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Haven't heard much,in match sim stuff I read he was 1st choice ruck but also read Soldo had finger surgery so not sure who might be leading at this point
Chanon
Roar Rookie
The Aussie Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story equivalent.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Max how has Sweet gone during the preseason?
Maxy
Roar Rookie
Pretty excited about the season ahead actually ,too have some height down back where we have been lacking for a years make alot of Port fans happy,watching players like Jonas Clurey and Mackenzie stand the big Gorillas isn't fun so just for Esava to bring height and weight/strength down back will help us,don't care if he has more falcons than touches just throw his weight around and be a nuisance.Don't now much about BZT but his height is most welcomed. And 2 new rucks is going to be interesting to watch,we have basically been last in ever stat in that department the last few years with Lycett injured alot and throwing Finlayson etc in there so hopefully improvement in the department also...we will find out soon
Chanon
Roar Rookie
I’ll get ya fired up :thumbup:
Maxy
Roar Rookie
I am still seeing a shrink 3 times a week after Ports 2007 loss so again I cant comment.I might be quiet in here this year Chan,not much to talk about,lol
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Please speak your mind Max the swan supporters are a very pragmatic lot these days. The 16’ loss is behind them :silly: