Sydney Swans defender Callum Mills could not be more pleased with how his first season has gone at AFL level.

The 19-year-old has impressed across the half-back line this season missing just one match (Round 11 against Gold Coast) when he was rested.

One of the leading contenders for the 2016 AFL Rising Star Award, Mills has averaged 18 disposals from his 17 games.

“I didn’t really put a benchmark on what I could do this year,” Mills told Sydney radio's Big Sport Breakfast.

“I just wanted to focus on learning as much as I could then I thought games would come off the back of that.

“It has been great to be able to play pretty much every game this year, I am rapt with how it has gone, hopefully we can make finals and I am a part of it.”

After following the Swans throughout his childhood, Mills appreciates every opportunity of representing the Club.

“I am pumped to be playing AFL footy rather than working in a bar or being a uni student so I am pumped that I can do this for a living,” Mills said.

“I can’t complain so far but once you start playing games you just want more and more.

“I hope we can make finals and make it deep into September.”

With a finals campaign well in his sights, Mills knows the importance of performing to a consistent level.

On Saturday, the young defender will be presented with a tough challenge in the form of a dangerous Port Adelaide forward line that includes the likes of Chad Wingard, Aaron Young and Robbie Gray.

 “It doesn’t really matter what the conditions will be Port Adelaide are going to be firing as they have a slim chance of making finals," he said.

“We have to be on our A game and that is what we want coming into finals.

“We want to really start playing some decent footy for four quarters and hopefully that can get us over the line.”