- Swans skipper Callum Mills was spotted on-field at halftime
- Injured star tried to fire up his misfiring teammates at MCG
- Mills was granted permission to sit on the bench by the AFL
A very unusual on-field act from injured skipper Callum Mills came with the blessing of the AFL – but it didn’t stop what was a nightmare grand final for the Sydney Swans on Saturday.
Mills, 27, who was ruled out earlier this week with a hamstring injury, was spotted in the middle of the MCG laying down the law to his teammates as the Brisbane Lions roared to a 46-point lead at halftime.
It was a conversation usually staged behind closed doors in the changerooms – but the AFL approved for Mills and Brisbane rival Oscar McInerney to sit on respective benches after both didn’t feature in the biggest game of the season.
According to footy reporter Tom Morris, football boss Laura Kane used her discretionary powers to extend the benches of both teams for the grand final to allow Mills and McInerney to sit in the dugout.
Swans defender Dane Rampe was captain in Mills’ absence, and revealed assuming the role was bittersweet.
‘He is one of my great mates and leaders of our club. We’ve been through a lot together,’ Rampe said on Friday.
‘Me and him had a cry after the news on Wednesday afternoon, but as soon as that was done and the way Millsy would have wanted, it was business as usual.’
Coach John Longmire admitted he felt for Mills – but couldn’t risk a player under an injury cloud.
Injured Swans captain Callum Mills (pictured middle) was spotted in the middle of the MCG laying down the law to his teammates at halftime after a poor showing in the AFL grand final
Brisbane assumed control early in the contest – and never looked like losing (pictured, Logan Morris celebrates a goal)
Charlie Cameron (left) helped the Lions end their premiership drought which stretched back to 2003
In 2022, Longmire named an underdone Sam Reid, and it backfired as Geelong romped to victory.
‘It’s one of those things you’ve got to make decisions, you sit down as a group, a medical conditioning staff and you go through everything,’ Longmire said on Friday.
‘It’s tough because Callum’s a great person and a great leader of our footy club, but he also understands that decisions need to be made.
‘When we weighed it all up and the risks going into a game like this, it just seemed to outweigh and go against Callum.’
In the end it mattered little, with the Lions atoning for last year’s defeat against Collingwood, cruising to victory by 60 points and ending their premiership drought which stretched back to 2003.
