It is a decision that John Longmire has made many times before.
Twice, the decision to play hurt players was deemed a costly mistake. But once, it saw the Swans claim the flag.
Longmire has yet to confirm the fate of Callum Mills’ in the 2024 grand final as the Swans skipper continues to race the clock to reach match fitness.
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Mills suffered a hamstring injury during training after the Swans’ preliminary final win and remains in contention to make a return in time for the final.
Callum Mills warms up in round 22 for Sydney. via Getty Images
Longmire declared the star will need to prove he’s cherry ripe at training if he wishes to make the final cut.
“Callum will train flat out tomorrow, that’s the plan,” Longmire told reporters on Tuesday.
“He will turn up tomorrow and train at absolute 100 per cent intensity, and we’ll see how we go.”
Longmire has previously expressed his regret in selecting injured players to compete in the finals, declaring he felt he “let a lot of people down” when he selected an injured Sam Reid in the 2022 grand final.
Sam Reid of the Swans looks upset after the loss during the 2022 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Geelong Cats and the Sydney Swans. AFL Photos via Getty Images
The repercussions of that decision left Kane Cornes speculating why Longmire would consider risking it all again.
“He hasn’t been in great form,” Cornes said of Mills on Nine’s Footy Classified.
“I think he’s really only got himself to blame. I think it’s a real lesson for other players, football is everyday of the year.
“You have to prepare yourself so that you are in the best physical position at this time of the year.”
Mills has a sour history with off-field injuries, suffering a broken foot after tripping in the street in 2018 before a rotator cuff injury saw him ruled out of the Swans’ 2024 preseason.
Adding salt to the wounds, the skipper suffered a calf tear in April which extended his sideline stint for an additional four weeks.
“When he tore that rotator cuff being a clown on mad Monday – that was entirely avoidable,” Cornes said.
“For the captain to put himself in that position, it’s a lesson to other player.
“He’s had no continuity with his body because he missed so much football due to that stupid incident on mad Monday. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for him at all.”