Very few players get to play in an AFL grand final. And when you are close to that summit, you need to be ready – prepared to do more than ever before, or perish with your dreams crumbling at your feet.
Professional sports demand professional attitudes and commitment. Success often requires more than just talent – it comes from discipline, commitment and year-round preparation.
Swans coach John Longmire and skipper Callum Mills.Credit: Getty Images
An AFL season, with its gruelling schedule, is a prime example. Despite the generous amount of leave gifted to them, AFL players have a 365-day-per-year job. They must be at their physical peak when it matters most, particularly during the finals.
Unfortunately, two prominent names – Sydney captain Callum Mills and Geelong premiership forward Tyson Stengle – are paying the price for lapses in their physical preparation. The result is injury, poor performance and, ultimately, disappointment for their teams during the critical stages of the season.
Mills entered this season under a cloud of scrutiny after a Mad Monday mishap in October last year left him with a serious shoulder injury. He damaged his rotator cuff while wrestling teammate Jacob Konstanty at the post-season event. The aftermath was devastating for Mills, who had to undergo surgery and missed the first 16 games of Sydney’s season.
While Mills eventually made his way back to the senior side in round 18, his fitness was far from optimal. He missed the following match with soreness and could only manage a handful of games before suffering yet another setback – a hamstring strain at training in the lead-up to Sydney’s preliminary final. The injury has ruled him out of Saturday’s grand final against the Brisbane Lions, a crushing blow that may haunt Mills for life.
Mills’ physical decline was avoidable. The shoulder injury, resulting from a moment of reckless behaviour, set the tone for a season marred by setbacks. It’s a stark reminder that AFL football is a full-time job. While rest and relaxation are important, staying disciplined and prepared is paramount. The consequence of not doing so can be felt at the worst possible time – finals. Mills, by his own admission, made a poor decision. The regret was visible.
Stengle was also found out on the biggest stage. The 2022 Geelong premiership forward put himself in a precarious situation late this season after a post-game celebration went terribly wrong. Hours after a standout performance in the round-20 win over North Melbourne, Stengle was carried unresponsive out of a Geelong nightclub and taken to hospital in a serious condition.
While the club and teammates, including captain Patrick Dangerfield and coach Chris Scott, expressed support for Stengle, the incident raised concerns about his off-field conduct and recovery habits. Geelong’s public support of Stengle was praised by most, but the incident again puts the spotlight on Stengle’s professionalism after he was sacked from Adelaide after a string of off-field incidents.
In Geelong’s preliminary final loss to the Lions, Stengle was a liability. Held goalless, he looked exhausted and made several poor decisions that cost his team dearly. One glaring mistake came in the third quarter when he failed to shut down the corridor, leading directly to a Brisbane goal. In finals football, there is no place to hide.
Both Mills and Stengle highlight the brutal nature of AFL football – when the stakes are at their highest, any physical or mental lapse will be exposed and carry a high price. For Mills, his injury was self-inflicted, due to the amount of pre-season training he missed, and his body was never able to prepare itself for the rigours and increased intensity of AFL finals. It might heartbreakingly cost him a premiership.
For Stengle, his questionable off-field behaviour late in the season appeared to limit his ability to perform when the pressure was at its peak.
Both players serve as cautionary tales for the rest of the AFL. While talent can carry you through the home-and-away season, success in finals is built on discipline, preparation, and a commitment to staying physically ready for every challenge. Mills and Stengle have been found out and on the cutthroat stage of finals – few get a second chance.
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