Callum Mills ruled out of AFL grand final after Sydney Swans training session

Callum Mills has been ruled out of the AFL grand final in a cruel blow for the injured Sydney skipper.

Mills made it through a closed training session on Wednesday, but despite saying afterwards he felt “good” it was not enough to convince coach John Longmire.

“Sydney Swans captain Callum Mills will not play in Saturday’s AFL Grand Final,” Sydney said in a statement.

“Mills trained this morning and after taking everything into consideration a joint decision was made by the club’s medical staff and the coaches to rule him out.

Earlier, Mills said he trained at “100 per cent” intensity.

Mills missed the Swans’ preliminary final win over Port Adelaide after suffering a minor hamstring strain at training on September 10.

Wednesday’s closed main training session had shaped as D-day for Mills, who had been challenged to train fully and put himself in contention.

“Good mate. Trained 100 per cent; feels good,” Mills told reporters after training.

Asked if he would play, Mills said: “Hopefully. It’s over to Horse (Longmire) now, but got through training and felt good.”

Mills said he wouldn’t be lobbying Longmire for a start.

“Nah, just had to train hard and hopefully that’s enough,” he said.

Mills has played just seven games in an injury-marred campaign.

Defender Robbie Fox appears likely to hold his spot as a result of Mills’s absence.

Mills has played just seven games in an injury-marred campaign.

The 27-year-old was ruled out of the first half of the season after tearing the rotator cuff in his left shoulder in a Mad Monday mishap last year, before a calf injury delayed his return further.

Earlier on Wednesday, Longmire said Mills had trained at “110 per cent” but said hadn’t made a decision on whether to recall the skipper.

A couple of hours later, Mills was ruled out.

Mills was previously picked for the 2016 grand final loss to the Western Bulldogs after overcoming a hamstring injury suffered in the first week of that year’s finals.

Longmire knows better than most how risking an injured player can pay off or backfire.

He lamented playing the injured Sam Reid in the 2022 decider as a “mistake”, after the severely hindered big man struggled then had to be substituted out soon after halftime in the embarrassing loss to Geelong.

But in 2012, Ted Richards was picked off an ankle injury and successfully quelled Lance Franklin to help the Swans to victory.

There are no concerns over key forward Logan McDonald, who has overcome the rolled ankle suffered against Port Adelaide.

“Nah, he was good,” Longmire said.

with AAP