Gerard Healy appearing on Fox Sports On The Couch on Monday night, said that the Swans should resist moving Mills into the midfield, as he has the potential to be one of the “all time great half backs”.
Known as the “flying doormat” due to his matted appearance, Bruce had an incredible career with the Carlton football club, winning four VFL flags, four best and fairest, a Norm Smith medal in 1981 and named in both Carlton's and the AFL's team of the century on the half-back flank.
For the 2016 AFL Rising Star to be compared to such an accomplished player is a testament to his rise in the AFL, despite the fact he's played just 35 games.
Healy said that the Swans should resist the temptation to move him into the midfield, given how valuable he is for the team on the half-back flank.
“This kid has got his eyes set on the midfield,” Healy said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch on Monday.
“I think he had a reasonably scratchy start to the season — the clubs were focusing on him. But I think he’s worked his way through that.
“There is going to be a temptation to push him into the midfield. He’s way too good (at half back) — he’s Bruce Doull-like.
“This kid can be one of the all time great half backs and the Swans need him to play there because they need someone who can see the inside target. He can. They haven’t got that many that look, see through the maze and go ‘bang.’”
“So I think it’s a big challenge for them.”
Mills had a slow start to the season, along with many of his team mates in the Swans disastrous 0-6 run, but has worked his way into form.
He was a standout performer for the Swans in their last-gasp win against Essendon on Friday night, recording 26 disposals, eight marks, two of them crucial intercept marks against McDonald-Tipungwuti, seven intercept possessions, five rebound 50s and over 500m gained.
Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall said that John Longmire would be confident in tight games, knowing that players like Mills would step up to the plate, regardless what position he played in the future.
“It must be a little easier being John Longmire, by knowing you’ve got players that can do the right thing at the right time,” Dunstall said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
“He’s got another youngster in Callum Mills that is showing those traits from a very early age.
“What’s needed, he finds a way to do it — he positions himself well, he’s got courage, he was the one that took that intercept mark late in the game.
“I mean, he’s a star that you just, you’re not quite sure where is going to be the best place down the track to play him.”
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