The Sydney Swans are staring down the barrel of losing yet another key player to suspension, with Callum Mills the latest Swan to draw the eye of the umpires.
In his first game since last year’s qualifying final, Callum Mills was put on report for collecting Demon Charlie Spargo high and late.
Callum Mills gave away a free kick for this incident involving Charlie Spargo as Pickett kicks his fifth goal.#AFLDeesSwans pic.twitter.com/USavmltdOe
— AFL (@AFL) May 25, 2025
After the game, first-year coach Dean Cox told reporters that he "didn't really get a good look at it, but that's going to be taken now out of our hands, so the AFL will deal with that the way it is. But you know, like I've said, we want to make sure our players play within the rules at all times."
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The runners up from 2024 were belted to the tune of 53 points by Naarm (Melbourne), effectively ruling them out of finals contention before the mid-season bye, with the Swans now sitting in 13th with a 4-7 win record.
While injuries have cruelled last year’s premiership favourites hopes of returning to the MCG in September, ill-discipline has played a huge part in their decline in form, with numerous key players already sitting on the sidelines for long spells.
Against Melbourne, Sydney had to contend with the suspensions of key forward Joel Amartey (three game suspension), key defender Lewis Melican (three game suspension) and on-baller Justin McInerney (second ban, four games total).
After last week's home win over Carlton which saw Amartey, Melican and McInerney all cop bans, Cox lamented that "we make sure that our forwards want to chase out and put as much pressure on the opposition, just in the right way."
On top of that, Sydney coughed up an enormous seven 50m penalties against Essendon in round 9, who kicked their first three goals from the Swans’ gifts.
Meanwhile, Mills’ return to the top league is set to be interrupted as he faces the MRO this week with at least a three-game ban looking likely.