Sydney facing anxious injury wait ahead of AFL grand final

Sydney captain Callum Mills is no certainty to return from injury for the AFL grand final, with the Swans set to give him until the last minute to prove his fitness.

Mills missed the Swans preliminary final victory over Port Adelaide at the SCG on Friday night with a hamstring injury, and looms as the hard-luck story of the AFL finals series.

But with 17 days between Mills’ last appearance and the AFL grand final he will do everything in his power to be passed fit.

“I’ll give it a crack this week and see how we go,” he said after the Swans preliminary final victory.

Sydney is also sweating on the services of key forward Logan McDonald, who rolled his ankle in the final quarter against the Power, but he looks likely to play.

But they will be pleased star defender Dane Rampe was cleared by the AFL tribunal after he caught Power star Zac Butters with a high shot.

The Lions have suffered a blow of their own with first choice ruckman Oscar McInerney almost certain to miss the grand final after dislocating his shoulder against Geelong in the preliminary final. This potentially opens the door for ex-Geelong ruckman Darcy Fort to play.

The Swans have been installed a $1.75 favourite with AFL bookmakers for the grand final, with Brisbane ($2.10) also finding some favour.

Swans midfielder Isaac Heeney ($5), Brisbane star Lachie Neale ($6) and Swans wingman Chad Warner ($8) are the favourites for the Norm Smith Medal, which is awarded to best on ground in the grand final.

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