Mills possible to become a Tiger

Lennox Head’s Wayde Mills (left), for Glenelg, bumps Central Districts’ Daniel Schell over in his pursuit of the ball in the Tigers’ match with the Bulldogs earlier in the season.

Gordon Anderson

AS unlikely as it seems, Lennox Head’s Wayde Mills is still in the running to be recruited by an AFL club when the league’s national draft gets underway today, and when its pre-season draft is held early next month.

Mills, who was delisted by Brisbane Lions in 2008 after three seasons with the club, nominated for the draft last year. Despite being overlooked, the 22-year-old’s name remains in the system for another season, but he is realistic about his chances today and next month.

“I haven’t heard anything back this year and I don’t expect to get picked up (by an AFL club),” he said.

The former Lions defender hasn’t remained idle, however.

Mills joined South Australian National Football League club

Glenelg this year and has earned something of a cult following among the Tiger faithful.

He has made the full-back position at Glenelg his own and was this season named in the Statewide newspaper’s team of the year.

The SANFL is the strongest football competition outside the AFL.

Mills has signed on with the team for next year and said he would likely be playing the same position again.

“I’d prefer to be up the ground a bit so I can have a bit of a run around,” he said.

After being the hot favourites all season, minor premiers Glenelg fell short by one game for a spot in the grand final.

“We were the best team all year then we just couldn’t kick the goals (in the finals),” Mills said. “We thought we were a big chance to win it but when the seconds (reserves) won we got behind them.”

Putting aside his disappointment of missing out on a shot at the premiership, Mills said he was enjoying his time in Adelaide.

“It’s a bit cold down here but it’s not too bad,” he laughed.

And according to Mills the stiff competition in the SANFL requires plenty of mental toughness.

“It’s good, it’s really competitive,” he said. “It is pretty mentally tough; there’s not too many guys I’m playing against where I think it’s going to be an easy game.”