CASUAL observers might wager on either Jonathan Brown or Jared Brennan to take the best mark by a Brisbane Lions player in 2007.
After all, Brown, a past winner of the AFL Mark of the Year, regularly gets the fans gasping by fearlessly throwing himself back with the flight of ball. And spring-heeled Brennan has long promised to launch himself on an opponent’s shoulder and snatch one from the clouds.
But those watching the Brisbane Lions demolish Carlton a fortnight ago probably reckoned the most spectacular grab so far this season was taken by defender-turned-forward Wayde Mills.
Mills earned a Toyota AFL Mark of the Week nomination with his ride on the shoulders of the Blues’ Irishman, Setanta O’hAilpin, and he was again in the spotlight in Saturday night’s 37-point win over the Kangaroos at the Gabba.
The 19-year-old’s six marks included an excellent pack mark in the third quarter, and he managed to kick the first two goals of his AFL career – including the Lions’ opener.
”It’s always good to get the first one on board – it was about time I kicked one,” a happy Mills said after the match.
”My role doesn’t give me that many shots, but I suppose I hadn’t been taking my chances either.
”Form probably shows I’m not really that confident [kicking for goal]. But I wasn’t too worried about it. If I’m in range, I’m going to have a shot.”
Mills, the No.25 pick of the 2005 National Draft, has become an integral part of the Lions’ forward line after being called up to senior action for the Round 14 clash with the West Coast Eagles.
The Lions haven’t lost a match since, and in his post-match media conference on Saturday night coach Leigh Matthews praised his young charge’s efforts.
”He [Mills] kicked two important goals,” Matthews said.
”When we had shots early on and missed, someone had to kick one and release the pressure. Millsy was the one who actually went and kicked the 45-metre goal.
”The pressure he and Robbie Copeland and Jared Brennan are putting on the opposition complements Jonathan [Brown], who is always likely to have the most shots at goal.”
Copeland and the 195cm Mills, as converted defenders, are playing slightly unorthodox forward roles, in that they are expected to defend as much – and occasionally more – than they are required to pose a goalkicking threat.
Mills, in particular, has been pushing up the ground to offer a leading target and link up with the Lions’ midfield, using the “motor” that allowed him to play much of his junior career in the midfield.
He admits his move into the forward 50 metres at AFL level came as a surprise, but he is determined to make the most of his opportunities in a senior team that has muscled its way into the top eight with five consecutive wins.
”There’s always a feel you can make [the finals] until you lose more than 11 games, but I guess we were a pretty long shot six weeks ago,” Mills said.
”Now we’ve got our destiny in our hands. We’ve put ourselves in a position where we can make the finals. Hopefully we can go on with it.”
