Past Wayde Mills (2006-2008)

[Grimreepah]

Re: Wayde Mills

Link

LIONS KEEP THE FAITH
By DARREN MONCRIEFF

WAYDE MILLS has time on his side and enough versatility to become a regular first-choice selection for the Brisbane Lions.
That's the opinion of Lions assistant coach, Justin Leppitsch, and former assistant, Shaun Rehn.
Mills, drafted by Brisbane in 2005, is regarded as a long-term prospect for the AFL club.
And he would want to be: Mills has played just 16 games in his fourth year in the AFL system.
The hulking 20-year-old from Lennox Head was wallowing in the reserves but finally got a guernsey with the seniors on Saturday and played a bit role in the Lions' gutsy 20-point win over Port Adelaide in Adelaide.
Brisbane was 47 points down at one stage in the third quarter but rallied to kick 11 of the last 12 goals to win in the wet.
"He's a long-term project, for sure," Leppitsch, one part of the Lions' celebrated back six in the club's triple premierships (2001-03), said.
"Everyone finds their feet in the first five years max.
"It takes about 50 games just to sort of release the nerves so that's still an ongoing process for him, too. He was finding a bit of touch with the reserves. He's ultra-competitive and he's coachable and disciplined, not at all flairy."
Mills flew into Adelaide as an emergency and replaced ruckman Jamie Charman at the 11th hour.
He marked his return to senior ranks in style with a goal coming from a 'mongrel' punt on a tight angle in the second quarter.
Mills presents something of an 'X' factor for the Lions.
It's his versatility - the ability to play forward and back - that excites the club, which drafted Mills primarily as a defender, says Rehn.
Coincidentally, Rehn, a two-time premiership ruckman with the Adelaide Crows and a former Lions ruck coach, now lives in the area where Mills grew up.
He moved to Bangalow after finishing up with the Lions at the end of last season.
"The young fella was drafted as a backman but he played as a really good forward and works hard defensively when up there," Rehn said.
"He's got that fitness base to run long and hard and if you're creating long leads as a forward your opposition tends to drop off."
Challenges
Mills faces challenges on several fronts to become a regular player - emerging pair Mitch Brown (??? you mean Clark) and Lachie Henderson his main 'rivals' - but Leppitsch said he has what it takes.
"He does have some stiff opposition to break into the side but he won't leave a stone unturned (to get there)," Leppitsch said.
"I think in the long-term, once his body matures, he'll become a 'tall' defender.
"But he can play a few roles. He's versatile. He's got quite a good lot of attributes."
Rehn agreed with his former coaching colleague.
"The thing with Wayde is that he is still developing," Rehn said.
"In a way, he got games earlier than anticipated (11 last year, four in 2006).
"He's 21 this year and sometimes, kids like that don't fully develop until they're 23 or 24 and with Wayde he'll sustain his size and bulk."

 

[Hollow Knight]

Re: Wayde Mills

Still can't believe Belgian wanted us to take Austin Lucy instead.

 

[POBT]

Re: Wayde Mills

Still can't believe Belgian wanted us to take Austin Lucy instead.

At pick 9 instead of Mitch, wasn't it?

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Wayde Mills

Link

Wayde Mills's grip on his position in this side will never be too tight, although he can consider himself unlucky to have been dropped after playing a huge role in last week's historic 67-point turnaround against Port Adelaide.Mills kicked the tough goal from the boundary last week when his side needed it and when other more experienced teammates had missed simple conversions

 

[BigCat2]

Re: Wayde Mills

http://www.lions.com.au/tabid/5085/Default.aspx?newsid=67882

Lions playing list changes

The Vodafone Brisbane Lions today advised Wayde Mills and Haydn Kiel that they will not be offered a position on the Club's playing list for Season 2009.

The decision came as part of the Football Department's list management and review process in preparation for 2009.

Mills played 16 senior matches and kicked three goals with the Club since being drafted with selection No.25 in the 2005 AFL National Draft while Kiel has spent the past two seasons on the Lions' Rookie List.

The Lions would like to thank Wayde and Haydn for their contributions to the Club and wish them well with their future endeavours.

Thanks for your work Millsy.

 

[acuguy]

Re: Wayde Mills

Lack of skill killed him in the end. Wouldn't mind betting he pops up at another club, i think he may be young enough to be rookied.

 

[knaf]

Re: Wayde Mills

Sorry to see him go. Loved his attitude. But it was obvious he had slipped behind a number of other talls. I hope he gets picked up by some other team and that he plays well, except against the Lions.

 

[acuguy]

Re: Wayde Mills

He might be seen as a possible replacement for Nathan Carroll on the Melbourne list.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Wayde Mills

2007 Review

2008 End of Season Review

Wayde Mills is very much a project player. This basically means he has major flaws in his game which he needs to overcome to survive at AFL level. In 2008 he has shown little progress. While he does look a little more nimble on his feet, his kicking is still a major problem, and if it has not improved after three years one has to start questioning whether it ever will.

Wayde played only one game in the seniors this year (round 4) and spent the rest of the year playing at fullback for Suncoast. He looked limited in his ability there and was regularly outpointed by his opponents.

Millsy is perhaps a bit unlucky to be drafted to a club that has a lot of key position talent. As a result there was little need to persist with the project and he was delisted at the end of the year.

 

[waikphys]

Re: Wayde Mills

Anyone know if Wayde has signed with Glenelg in the SANFL?

 

[waikphys]

Re: Wayde Mills

Yes me, he has indeed.....good luck to the lad.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Re: Wayde Mills

Yes me, he has indeed.....good luck to the lad.

He has a tendency to get into fights every single match. Good entertainment value.

 

[POBT]

Re: Wayde Mills

Will be a very good key defender or even lead up forward at SANFL level. Didn't quite have the explosive pace or game reading ability to play key position at AFL level but wasn't far off the mark. A pretty good pick-up by Glenelg.

 

[acuguy]

Re: Wayde Mills

Not sure if the AFL has seen the last of Millsy, if he can step up to the plate in the SANFL and develop his ability either as a key forward or a key backman then he may be a chance. The recycled player under 24 is going to be recruited over the next 2-3 years.

 

[Grimreepah]

Link

Aussie Rules star a big cat at heart
Darren Moncrieff
16th February 2009

LENNOX Head's Wayde Mills will begin the next phase of his football career in the best competition outside the AFL after swapping the Lions of Brisbane for the Tigers of Glenelg in Adelaide.
Mills, who was shown the door at Brisbane last September after three years and 16 AFL games, has joined the Tigers, last year's South Australian National Football League (SANFL) grand finalists, after answering the call from its coach Mark Mickan, a former captain of the original Brisbane Bears.
The hulking 21-year-old Mills has been at the club for about a month.
The former captain of Queensland's under-18 team and All-Australian in 2005 failed to elicit interest from AFL clubs in the November and December drafts but is ready to enjoy the less intense football environment in Adelaide.
“Mark called me out of the blue and I had a look at the tape of SANFL action he put together for me. I liked what I saw so I thought I'd come down and have a look,” Mills said from Adelaide yesterday.
“It's been fantastic here; they're a great bunch of blokes. Adelaide has good beaches although you don't get the waves as much.
I'm just looking forward to enjoying my footy again. There's not as many restrictions on you as at an AFL club.”
At 195cm and 94kg, the Tigers are banking on Mills bringing a strong, aggressive and physical presence to the team.
His recruitment could be also to fill the void in defence following the departures of key personnel down back.
“Wayde is a welcome addition to the Glenelg Football Club playing group,” Mickan said on the club's website.
“He is still young but he offers strong leadership qualities highlighted by an impressive work ethic.”
Glenelg became victim number seven this decade of SA power club Central District after losing to the Bulldogs in last year's decider.
It's something the playing group wish to reverse this season in the team meetings Mills has been privy to.
“They've talked about the season ahead and everyone is really keen to take the next step and win it this year,” Mills said.
“They should have won it last year - they just had one bad game - so hopefully we can go one better.”
The South Australian league is the best outside the AFL and routinely defeats Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania at interstate clashes.
The league has a salary cap and its nine clubs attract a fair portion of former and up-and-coming AFL players which raises the playing standards.
Mills will get his first run as a Tiger in a practice match this weekend. It will be his first hit-out after recovering from patella tendonitis.
Glenelg's first match of the premiership season is at home against Sturt on Saturday, March 28.

Wayde Mills, right, has traded in his Brisbane Lions guernsey for the black and yellow of Glenelg in Adelaide.