Swans star out for year after freak injury

Andrew Wu

SMH, May 24

Sydney's premiership aspirations have been dealt a massive blow with gun youngster Callum Mills ruled out for the rest of the season after a freak off-field accident in which he broke his foot walking back from a cafe.

And star midfielder Josh Kelly is back as Greater Western Sydney recalled Jonathon Patton in a bid to end the club's forward woes in the vital clash against Essendon. But captain Phil Davis misses again due to concussion while reliable defender Matt Buntine is back for his first game since round two last year.

Mills, the 2016 Rising Star winner and a key part of the Swans' defence, and teammates were throwing a gridiron ball on the way back from a cafe near Allianz Stadium to the club's SCG headquarters when he tripped and fell after training on Thursday.

Star defender Dane Rampe broke his arm last year attempting to clear a a chain outside the Swans' offices at the end of a run. He missed seven matches.

"It was a really unfortunate accident and unfortunately Callum has an operation on Monday and will be out for the rest of the year – it's a bad break," Swans coach John Longmire said.

"It's something out of the blue and clearly very disappointing for him and us."

Freak fall ends Mills’ year

Neil Cordy

The Daily Telegraph, May 25

SYDNEY defender Callum Mills has suffered a freak accident and will miss the rest of the AFL season after tripping and breaking his foot while walking back to Swans HQ from a cafe.

In a massive blow, Mills was throwing a gridiron ball with teammates just after lunch at the Moore Park precinct when the incident happened.

Scans revealed the 21-year-old had suffered a broken foot that requires season-ending surgery.

“It’s a bad break,” Swans coach John Longmire said.

“It was a really unfortunate accident and unfortunately Callum has an operation on Monday and will be out for the rest of the year.

“It’s something out of the blue and clearly very disappointing for him and us.”

Don’t think you can just Bud in, pal

Neil Cordy

The Daily Telegraph, May 25

IT didn’t matter how many goals Will Hayward kicked, he was always going to revert to second fiddle when Lance Franklin returned to lead Sydney’s orchestra.

But that didn’t stop the Swans’ forwards letting Franklin know they handled the load pretty well without him.

“I think I heard Bennie Ronke say to Buddy ‘you’ll be struggling to get a game if I’m kicking seven every week’,” Hayward said.

Ronke had a breakout game against Hawthorn, kicking seven goals in an upset win.

But Hayward wasn’t to be outdone, producing three-goal hauls in three consecutive matches to help the Swans deal with Franklin’s absence with a heel injury.

“There is always a spot for Buddy obviously,” Hayward said.

Junior participation for AFL is on the rise, and former Cardiff junior Isaac Heeney thinks it can only get better

Isaac McIntyre

Newcastle Star

Three years ago a young Cardiff Hawks junior stepped out onto the Sydney Cricket Ground in the red and white of the Sydney Swans, and became one of the youngest debutantes in AFL history.

Despite living in a rugby league town, Isaac Heeney had forged on with his love for the football code more popular in the south of Australia, and after years of training, preparing and watching his idols from afar, his chance came and he never looked back.

Although Heeney made his first round debut against the Essendon Bombers at ANZ Stadium, Hawks juniors Rose Williams, Lucas Gray and Taj Williams had their first chance at footy fame on the SCG.

As well as getting a chance to have a kick on the hallowed turf, Heeney took the three aspiring footy players on a tour of the behind-the-scenes area of the Swans’ home stadium, including the team change rooms and training drills.

For Heeney, it was a chance to give back to the club that had “given [him] everything”.

“It’s extremely exciting, [the Hawks] were like a second family to me when I was growing up and have been such an amazing and supportive club still to these days,” he said. “If I can give back in any way I definitely want to.”