Played only four games in his debut year in 2006, but came up against quality opposition, including Bomber Scott Lucas and Saint Nick Riewoldt. His time at centre half-back was a good lesson for the solid defender. Another developing player on the club’s list.
Pre 2007
For the vast majority of debutants, it is the uncertainty ahead of their first AFL game that causes them anxiety.
Which is why the Brisbane Lions' first-year defender Wayde Mills was happy enough to encounter a familiar foe in the Round 2 clash against Essendon at the Gabba.
Rather than having to agonise over the spectre of dealing with an unseen opponent, Mills was able to draw confidence from the fact that he'd played on Scott Lucas before. More than that, he'd played well on the left-footed Bomber as the Lions edged out Essendon by a single point in a Round 1 NAB Cup win at Carrara two months previously.
"It was quite lucky, I suppose, to have played on him previously. It meant that I sort of knew what to expect," Mills said.
"The other thing was that I didn't notice that much of a difference from the pre-season. There was a slight difference in the pace of the game but that was about it.
"I found out probably two days before that I'd be playing and I was pretty nervous going into it. But once I was out there I was okay."
Actually, Mills was probably more than just "okay" taking seven marks, picking up 14 possessions and keeping 200-gamer Lucas to a single goal. Just as he had in the pre-season, Mills didn't shirk the physical aspect against his more experienced adversary, pressured Lucas at every opportunity and showed plenty of defensive nous.
The next week he was trusted with an even bigger assignment when he lined up on Nick Riewoldt in the 37-point Round 3 loss to St Kilda. There was plenty of poignancy in the two Southport products doing battle, with Mills freely admitting to having looked up to the Saints star during his junior days.
"I did look up to him quite a lot actually. When I was playing my junior footy he'd already come through that system," Mills explained.
"I had a bit of trouble with him early and he kicked a few goals on me in the first half - I lost him a couple of times there. But I thought by the end I was playing a bit better and I'd changed my game to suit playing on him.
"I definitely learnt a lot from the experience. Those kind of players have so much speed and strength but then they have the head on their shoulders as well, so it's really tough."
While the Lions may have gone down in Mills' second game, they were 18 points winners over the Bombers on his debut. The well-built, 196cm 18-year-old was doubly delighted with the result because he got to stand alongside his Queensland under 18 teammate of 2005 and good friend Rhan Hooper as the Lions enthusiastically belted out the team song.
Mills, who hails from Lennox Head but played his footy north of the border, was taken by the Lions at pick No. 25 of the 2005 National Draft. Ipswich's Hooper, meanwhile, was taken with the club's next selection at No. 41.
"I've played a fair bit of footy with Rhan and we are pretty good mates, so it was good to step over the line with him," Mills said.
"And it was great to get a win, especially seeing as it was our first for the season."
All up, Mills' first stint in the Lions' 22 lasted for four weeks, before he dropped back to reserves level ahead of the Round 6 meeting with Sydney. Having already played spent time on the likes of Lucas, Riewoldt, Fraser Gehrig and Greg Stafford, he has now set his sights on grabbing a regular gig in the senior backline.
"I've changed a lot of my goals that I had at the start of the year already," he said.
"Going back to the reserves was maybe a bit of a setback but I'm just keen to try and work my way back to the seniors by playing good footy for the Suncoast Lions."
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