Callum Mills: Sydney captain to miss at least first three games of Swans’ season amid plantar fascia setback

Sydney will make the trip to WA for Fremantle’s home opener next month without Callum Mills after the Swans captain suffered a foot setback.

In the latest injury hurdle for the 27-year-old, Mills will be absent for at least the first three games of Sydney’s season as he deals with a plantar fascia tear.

It comes off the back of a shoulder injury that cruelled the first half of his 2024 campaign, and a hamstring issue that cost him a chance to line up in the Swans’ grand final clash with Brisbane last September.

“Callum had been managing his plantar fasciitis well, however he required follow up imaging with the results last night revealing Callum has sustained a tear of the plantar fascia,” Swans physiotherapy boss Damian Raper said.

“After consultation with our medical team, we believe the best course of action is to spend two weeks in a boot, before reassessing Callum’s return to play program.

“Unfortunately, this means he will be unavailable to play prior to the club’s Round 3 bye.”

The Swans face a testing start to the season without the 2022 All-Australian, with match-ups against likely premiership contenders Hawthorn and Brisbane before the flight across the Nullarbor to face Freo in round two.

That game will be the Dockers’ first match in front of their home crowd for the season, and new Sydney coach Dean Cox’s first game at the helm back in his home state.

Mills made just seven AFL appearances last year - his lowest amount for a season since debuting nine years ago.