"He plays with poise, skill and a level of courage rarely seen in an individual of his age."

Assistant coach John Francou could not have encapsulated Callum Mills any better when awarding the young talent with this year's Rising Star Award.

Presented in front of guests and clubmen at Thursday night's Bob Silton Medal, there was no surprise as to the recipient of the honour after the 19-year-old won the competition's equivalent only a month earlier.

Mills averaged 18.5 disposals across his 22 games in what proved to be an outstanding first season in the AFL.

From the outside looking in, Mills slotted in seamlessly at the top level having exhibited a brand of football worthy of a more experienced and established recruit.

His ability to have only eyes for the football while backing into packs as an intercept defender was a trademark of his game and, as Francou put it, "forced the competition to sit up and take notice."

Just don't bother trying to tell him that.

Mills, impressively, only had team success at the forefront of mind having only tasted the bitterness of Grand Final defeat less than a week earlier.

"I don't think you can ever say you belong at AFL level because that's when people start overtaking you and the game goes past you," Mills said after accepting the award from former owner Peter Weinert.

"You always want to be on edge, that's sort of my philosophy, and keep getting better.

"Fingers crossed that can happen and, as a team, we can go one better next year."

The QBE Sydney Swans Academy product follows in the footsteps of previous recipients Kieren Jack and Dan Hannebery who are among the leaders the No. 14 clung to and credits for his relatively smooth transition.