- Swans skipper Callum Mills was spotted on the pitch at half-time
- The injured star tried to fire up his failing teammates at the MCG
- Mills was cleared by the AFL to sit on the bench
A highly unusual on-field move by injured captain Callum Mills got the blessing of the AFL, but it did not stop what was a nightmarish 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 on his teammates as the Brisbane Lions roared into a 46-point lead at half-time.
It was a conversation usually held behind closed doors in the dressing rooms, but the AFL approved Mills and Brisbane rival Oscar McInerney to sit on their respective benches after both failed to play in the biggest game of the season.
According to footy reporter Tom Morrisfootball boss Laura Kane used her discretionary powers to expand both teams’ benches for the grand final so Mills and McInerney could sit in the dugout.
Swans defender Dane Rampe was captain in Mills’ absence and revealed he assumed the role was bittersweet.
“He is one of my great friends and leaders of our club. We have been through a lot together,” Rampe said on Friday.
‘Me and him cried after the news on Wednesday afternoon, but once that was over and as Millsy would have wanted it, it was business as usual.’
Coach John Longmire admitted he felt bad for Mills but couldn’t risk a player under an injury cloud.
Injured Swans captain Callum Mills (pictured center) was spotted in the middle of the MCG laying down the law on his teammates at half-time after a poor performance in the AFL grand final
Brisbane took control early in the match and never looked like losing (Photo: Logan Morris celebrates a goal)
Charlie Cameron (left) helped the Lions end their premiership drought, which dated back to 2003
In 2022, Longmire appointed an undersized Sam Reid, and it backfired as Geelong romped to victory.
“It’s one of those things you have to take, you have to sit down as a group, a medical conditioning staff and you have to go through everything,” Longmire said Friday.
‘It’s difficult because Callum is a great person and a great leader of our football club, but he also understands that decisions have to be made.
“When we weighed everything up and weighed up the risks of a match like this, it just seemed to weigh more heavily and go against Callum.”
In the end it mattered little as the Lions atoned for last year’s defeat to Collingwood, romping to victory by 60 points and ending a premiership drought dating back to 2003.