QBE Sydney Swans Academy player Callum Mills was one of the stars of the NSW/ACT Rams’ recent win at the AFL Under-16 National Championships.

Mills, who captained the Rams to their first carnival win since 2002, was awarded the NSW/ACT Most Valuable Player and was also named the Best Player in Division Two.

The Mosman/Willoughby midfielder, who also claimed the Carbine Club AFL Scholarship last Friday, credited his success to the tireless work of his Rams team mates throughout the carnival.

“I was surprised to win because there was so much talent on display at the carnival,” Mills told sydneyswans.com.au.

“I thought I played well, but you can’t really say you played well because in the end it was all about the team.

“You don’t play by yourself, so the other players obviously had a massive influence on how I played, but I was rapt to win the awards.”

The NSW/ACT Rams were undefeated throughout this year’s carnival, which concluded with a strong victory over Tasmania at Blacktown International Sportspark last Saturday.

Putting his individual awards aside, Mills said the Rams’ Division Two victory, which comes after a drought of more than a decade, was his greatest success at the carnival.

“It was a massive achievement for the whole of NSW football in general,” he said.

“I guess it’s just shown how much impact the Academies, both the Swans’ and GWS’ have had on the players for the past three years.”

The 16-year-old, who made the switch from rugby union to AFL three years ago, said the Sydney Swans Academy had played a significant role in both his individual and the state team’s achievements this year.

“The Swans Academy is crucial as we don’t have that much football up here in Sydney,” he said.

“It gives you a competitive edge to compete with the Victorian, Western Australian and South Australian kids.

“I guess it’s just really benefited myself and other players in Sydney to give you that extra training and mentoring you need.”

Swans Academy Talent and Operations Manager Chris Smith said the Rams’ recent achievements were evidence that AFL in NSW was on the rise.

“There is no doubt that the success of this year’s Rams squads was due to the Academies and AFL NSW/ACT working collaboratively together,” he said.

“The messages and themes that were agreed upon established an attractive and distinct brand of football.

“Historically, players felt the need to play a more individual style in representative games. With the NSW brand encouraging a more team orientated style, numerous players, such as Callum Mills, found that they could collectively take their game to another level.

“The progress we have made in 2013 suggest that we are on the right track and that the future for AFL NSW football is an exciting one.”

Mills’ impressive effort at the under-16 carnival comes after the recent success of Under-18 Rams player and NSW Scholarship player Lloyd Perris, who was named All-Australian and won the Ben Mitchell Medal at the AFL Under-18 Championships in Melbourne.

Perris, who was one of the primary members of the Sydney Swans Academy, also took out the Round 17 NEAFL Rising Star nomination for his 19 possessions and two goal performances in the Swans reserves loss to UWS last Sunday.

The NSW/ACT Rams celebrate their Division 2 AFL Under-16 Championship title.

For more about the QBE Sydney Swans Academy and the Swans stars of tomorrow, visit the Swans Academy Facebook page.