Australian Football

At 203 cm Leonard Mills was far and away the tallest league footballer of his day, and indeed remains one of the tallest men ever to play the game at the highest level. Known as ‘Booby’ for the bulk of his career, which was spent with West Torrens, he was regarded as well nigh unbeatable in straight ruck contests, and was also a fine mark and good kick. He was a key contributor to Torrens’ breakthrough premiership in 1924, having earlier that year represented South Australia at the Hobart carnival. All told, he represented his state on six occasions, kicking five goals. 

Mills spent the 1926 season playing for New Town in Tasmania, where his immense height created great stir. He then returned to West Torrens, but in 1929, aged 31, and well past his best, he crossed to St Kilda in the VFL. Once again his arrival was greeted with great acclaim, but being constantly in the public spotlight adversely affected his confidence, and he managed just a couple of unimpressive senior games for the year.

Known, with crass predictability, as ‘Tiny’ during his time in Victoria, Mills transferred to Hawthorn in 1930 and managed eight games for the season, kicking 17 goals, before allegedly disappearing without trace. During the Torrens phases of his career he played a total of 90 league games, kicking 106 goals.

Author - John Devaney