Callum Mills is set to force Sydney to make a huge selection call in grand final week as Taylor Adams prepares for another hard-luck end to an AFL season.
Mills tweaked his hamstring in the aftermath of the Swans’ qualifying-final win over GWS, prompting fears he would be sidelined for the rest of the finals series.
But the captain, who watched from the coaches’ box as his side eased to a 14.11 (95) to 8.11 (59) win over Port Adelaide in their preliminary final on Friday, has made giant strides in his recovery.
“He trained today and trained quite well,” coach John Longmire reported.
“Did a fair bit, which is a good sign. We’ll see how the week progresses.”
Longmire recalled Mills for the 2016 grand final in eerily similar circumstances, with the academy product having suffered a hamstring injury in week one of the finals on that occasion.
More recently, Longmire admitted it was a mistake to pick an injured Sam Reid in the 2022 grand final that the Swans lost.
Mills was non-committal when asked on Seven about his prospects of being passed fit.
“I’ll give it a crack this week and see how we go,” he said.
Young key forward Logan McDonald rolled his ankle on Friday night, creating a fresh injury headache for the minor premiers.
“He seemed OK in himself so we’ll see how his ankle pulls up,” Longmire said.
The Swans also face a nervous wait over the availability of veteran defender Dane Rampe for the grand final, after he flattened Port’s Zak Butters with a high hit.
While the MRO will scrutinise the incident later on Saturday, Rampe appeared less than concerned after the match.
“It wasn’t a big hit, mate,” he told ABC Sport.
“I spoke to Zak on the way out, he was surprised he got a free kick. Genuinely not worried about that. I think he threw his head back a little bit and he had a chuckle with me.”
Adams is one player who appears on the outer despite featuring in 19 matches during his first year at the Swans.
Taylor Adams looks set to be the hard luck story of the AFL grand final for the second year running. (Getty Images: Michael Willson)
The 31-year-old was dropped in week one of the finals, making way as Sydney recalled fit-again stars Tom Papley and Isaac Heeney amid four changes.
It now appears unlikely Adams will be picked, barring a fresh setback to a teammate at training.
The former Collingwood midfielder ended in tears after his side won the 2023 grand final, having been reduced to the role of spectator because of a hamstring injury.
Longmire, who missed playing in North Melbourne’s 1996 premiership after undergoing a knee reconstruction and was then overlooked in the Kangaroos’ side that contested the 1998 grand final, could only sympathise with Adams.
“I’ve been there as a player,” Longmire said.
“A couple of times, both with injury and non-selection.
“So absolutely you do feel for him.
“But his attitude has been terrific. He was out on the ground tonight soaking in the moments and we’re not sure what happens this week.
“So just keep working and see how the week progresses.”
Adams said he was “ecstatic” when interviewed by Seven after the game.
“I thought that was probably our best performance for the year,” Adams said.
“We played probably the best four quarters of footy we’ve played and I am rapt for the boys.
“After going through last year, I sort of learned to really enjoy this, what’s been thrown at me. Looking forward to a great week.”
AAP/ABC
Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key Events
Sydney def Port Adelaide by 36 points
That’s it from the blog tonight!
A special night in Sydney, but one that only sets the scene for a bigger weekend to come. The Swans are heading for the grand final with scores to settle and business to finish, and tonight’s evidence they are perfectly placed to complete their mission.
I’ll be back on the blog tomorrow arvo as we settle the other half of the grand final match-up. Geelong is playing Brisbane at the MCG, and that one could well be far more tense than tonight’s game. Feel free to join me for that one too! Until then, thanks for your compant and enjoy your weekend.
John Longmire has arrived for his press conference
Can guarantee he’s not going to be whooping and hollering a whole lot. This is going to be very understated from the Sydney coach, but he might give some insight on some injury concerns.
“It’s a great spot to be in, it’s what we’ve been training for since the last game last year. We’ve given ourselves an opportunity next week which is terrific. We executed today as well as we could, we were strong in the contest, we executed our process, lived in the moment and got the job done.
“Not everything is going to go your way, but you have to find different ways. We were well beaten in the centre and free kicks at clearance were an issue, but we were able to work through that. Our defenders played well and then we were able to turn the tide a bit. Things aren’t going to go your way at this time of year, but you have to adapt and problem solve and I thought our players did that well.
“Logan McDonald seemed okay but we’ll see how he pulls up. He rolled his ankle.
“Callum Mills trained today and trained quite well, which is a good sign. We’ll see how the week progresses.
“(On Taylor Adams) I’ve been there as a player, a couple of times with injury and non-selection. You feel for them, but his attitude has been terrific. We’re not sure what happens this week, so keep working.”
Ken Hinkley has arrived for his press conference
Could be interesting.
“We gave them great looks, ridiculous looks at time. They are a high quality team, we knew that. They finished on top of the ladder for a reason. We knew we had to be at our absolute best, but we weren’t capable of going with them tonight.
“Some of those turnovers were undefendable, but I thought they looked like a really polished team with different phases.
“Right now it’s really disappointing because we came here with optimism. We more than anyone know hard that final step is. I thought as a club we stuck together pretty well through the whole year and gave ourselves a chance.
“I understand the story will be that we failed to get there again, but I thought we gave it a pretty good crack.”
The stories to watch in Sydney this week
Three Sydney players will have most of the attention on them this week.
Logan McDonald would be a walk up starter for the grand final, but he was subbed off early tonight with an ankle injury and will no doubt need to prove his fitness through the week.
Callum Mills missed this one with a hamstring injury and will be desperate to come up for the grand final. Do the Swans take a risk on the captain if he’s not 110% fit?
Taylor Adams missed out on Collingwood’s premiership last year, left for Sydney, and now has found himself out of the team as the Swans qualified for a grand final. Is he set to be a hard luck story for two years in a row?
Sydney celebrations are underway
There is joy unconfined at the SCG, though the players don’t look to be getting ahead of themselves. The job is far from done for them.
For the Bloods in the crowd? The lid is off.
Isaac Heeney’s smile can be seen at the MCG
The Sydney superstar was fantastic again tonight, and he is understandably elated. He has spoken to Channel Seven about tonight and their prospects next week:
“Unbelievable. We have had this support all year and it is special. We’ve got a special team and to bounce back as we did and put on a performance like that is special. Unbelievable. Love this. Bring on next week.
“We could very well be against the same side (as 2022) as well. We are a different team than 2022 and a bit more mature. The boys are excited.”
Key Event
FT: Sydney is through to the grand final! Swans beat Port by 36 points
A professional, convincing and encouraging win for Sydney. The Swans made it look pretty easy in the end, standing up to the early pressure before throwing a decisive punch and then shutting the whole thing down.
They are looking an awful lot like the well-oiled machine that took down all before it in the first half of the year, with top form returning at just the right time. Sydney is through to yet another grand final, and you absolutely have to love its chances next week.
Port Adelaide looked as if it had spent its remaining tickets last week. The Power cracked in all night, there’s no questioning that, but they couldn’t match the Swans for skill and speed. It’s another year without a grand final appearance, and despite an overall positive year there will be yet more question marks around the club and its future.
The red and white banners are flying high around the SCG. One to go for the Swans.
Into the final minute
Sydney just chipping the footy around after a non-event of a last quarter.
Rampe and Heeney are arm in arm on the bench on their big milestone nights. A special evening for the Swans.
Five minutes to play in the prelim
Time for Horse to get some of these boys off the ground. Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Errol Gulden, come have a spell.
We’re just counting down to the siren now with Port Adelaide’s season on the verge of its conclusion.
Connor Rozee thumps one home on the run
That’s a delightful goal from Port Adelaide. Swift chain of handball out of the stoppage leads to Rozee bursting through the 50 and drilling it on the move.
It’s a 34-point game with 10 minutes to play. Wouldn’t have thought so.
Travis Boak kicks one for Port Adelaide
He owes them a couple, Boaky. The champ has made some errors tonight but hasn’t dropped his head once, and is stil running hardest onto a loose ball inside attacking 50 right to the last.
Could this be the last time we see Travis Boak out there?
Isaac Heeney gets the party started in Sydney!
The most obvious free kick of the night, with Heeney clearly blocked in the marking contest that time. He makes no mistake with the set shot, the lead is 45 with 13:27 to play and this one is all over bar the shouting.
The Swans are headed for their fifth grand final in 12 years.
Logan McDonald has been subbed off with an injury
First reak concern of the night for Sydney. McDonald has played well tonight but looks like he’ll have a nervous week ahead of him.
Robbie Fox is on in his stead.
A rough night for Ken Hinkley
His Port Adelaide team is well and truly on the ropes, but as Ethan Rix points out from inside the gates at the SCG Hinkley hasn’t been too popular with the locals either.
“‘Sydney’ chants are ringing out across the ground now with Swans fans feeling pretty confident at the moment and rightfully so.
“Meanwhile, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley hasn’t exactly enjoyed a warm welcome to Sydney, receiving a chorus of boos every time he appears on the big screen.
“Tonight, marks Hinkley’s 274th game coaching Port Adelaide, surpassing the AFL club record held by former coach Mark Williams.”
The last quarter is underway
We’re either about to see one of the most dramatic last terms in football history, or Sydney securing a spot in the grand final.
Now or never for Port in 2024.
Port have subbed Frank Evans on for Jackson Mead.
Key Event
3QT: The Swans lead by 40 and have a foot in the grand final
Port Adelaide are right on the cusp of falling off the cliff now. The Power have fought to keep the margin between five and six goals but Sydney look ready to take this completely away from them in the last.
The Swans have looked fresher, sharper and more clinical all night. The game has been played on Sydney’s terms and Port haven’t had the ability to throw the Swans off their stride.
Port Adelaide is still on top in the clearances, and theoretically that could lead to it piling on some quick goals at some point in this term, but this doesn’t have the feeling of another finals comeback thriller. I imagine the Swans will be resting some players on the bench with an eye to next week pretty soon.
Chad Warner with a dagger! The Swans are soaring in Sydney!
Another goal directly from a Travis Boak turnover. The veteran has had a dirty night back there.
Warner read Boak’s kick from the back pocket and charged after the intercept. He picked it off, sidestepped an opponent for the fun of it and snapped his second. That might just about be that.
Three minutes to play in the third quarter
Swans are playing a bit of possession footy now, just taking all spice out of this game. It’s mature footy from a team that knows it’s about 30 minutes of smart play away from a grand final.
When Port finally get their hands on it, it has to be all-out attack. Got to take risks to save your season.
Charlie Dixon kicks his first for Port
Much better ball work from Port Adelaide, carrying it quickly and aggressively from end to end. Dixon was out the back in the goalsquare, marked and converted.
It just keeps lingering around that 33-point mark. Port need to sneak another couple before the last break to have a chance.
