{"id":89143,"date":"2026-09-06T05:14:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T05:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/89143\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T05:14:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T05:14:10","slug":"sydney-dynamo-tom-papley-shattered-for-injured-skipper-callum-mills-after-brisbane-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/89143\/","title":{"rendered":"Sydney dynamo Tom Papley \u2018shattered\u2019 for injured skipper Callum Mills after Brisbane win"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sydney<\/a> star Tom Papley is \u201cshattered\u201d for Callum Mills<\/a> as the Swans captain braces to miss the club\u2019s push for an unlikely AFL<\/a> premiership.<\/p>\n

Mills\u2019 feared ACL rupture added a sour note to Sydney\u2019s remarkable 53-point qualifying final demolition of reigning premiers Brisbane at the SCG on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Scans are expected to confirm the major knee injury for the luckless 29-year-old, who missed the Swans\u2019 2024 grand final loss and has dealt with numerous untimely injuries across his 197-game career.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

But Sydney have an opportunity to make amends for previous grand final losses, with a preliminary final at the SCG against either Fremantle or Geelong to come.<\/p>\n

Papley admitted it \u201cdidn\u2019t look great\u201d for Mills following the resilient skipper\u2019s first-quarter knee injury.<\/p>\n

Mills has earned significant praise for leading the club amid the dramatic fallout from the events at the Pullman Hotel last month.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cHe (Mills) is an amazing captain,\u201d Papley said on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201c(He\u2019s) been amazing over the last few weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHe puts this club on his back and wears his heart on his sleeve. It\u2019s just shattering for him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d love nothing more than to win a premiership and have him by my side, albeit he might not be there (playing).\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHe deserves it more than anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"InjuredInjured Sydney captain Callum Mills put on a brave face after the Swans\u2019 win over the Lions. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

Star players Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Nick Blakey \u2014 All-Australian contenders before they were banned from being selected \u2014 are among the five serving club-imposed bans.<\/p>\n

Important tagger James Jordon and defender Riley Bice are the other Swans who won\u2019t play again this season.<\/p>\n

Sydney were given little chance to knock off the Lions, even though they finished the home-and-away season second.<\/p>\n

Even club chairman Andrew Pridham conceded the Swans\u2019 premiership hopes had been \u201ctorpedoed\u201d after suspending the five players.<\/p>\n

But all cylinders of the Swans machine fired on Saturday despite those major absences, with Errol Gulden calling the shots in the engine room as Harry Cunningham directed the defence.<\/p>\n

Logan McDonald may have led with six goals, but Sydney enjoyed an even contribution from their forward line, with Charlie Curnow and Papley slotting five each.<\/p>\n

\"ProudProud skipper Callum Mills joined the Swans on the ground to celebrate their stunning win. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

Tall forward Hayden McLean\u2019s three-goal haul is set to further complicate coach Dean Cox\u2019s selection conundrum, with Joel Amartey (Achilles) nearing full fitness.<\/p>\n

Star winger Justin McInerney is also expected to return from a hamstring strain for the preliminary final.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey should both be available … and that\u2019ll be a decision, like we do every week,\u201d Cox said of Amartey and McInerney.<\/p>\n

Cox said Saturday\u2019s win felt like the most complete four-quarter performance in his tenure.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the quality of opposition that we were playing and the ability of the match-winners that they have all over the ground,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was really proud when we\u2019ve got some of the young kids that come into our football team to be able to execute the roles they had to play at the right time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

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