Sport

Mills reaches spectacular Mark for Katamatite

By Callum Farquhar

Jul 23, 2026

Mark Mills hunts the football in his 200th senior game at Katamatite. Photo: Sheryl Elliott

Mark Mills didn’t play a game of football until he was 21, but now he’s a Katamatite life member.

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You’ll find his name in just about every sporting code, notably tennis, but Mark Mills’ passion for a club is firmly with the Tigers.

And after over a decade and a half of dedication to the yellow and black, it was the Tigers turn to make it Mills’ day to celebrate.

Playing his 200th senior football game for the Picola District League club, Mills kicked a goal in front a passionate Tigers crowd at Katamatite Recreation Reserve, as the reigning premier recorded a 118-point rout of Picola United in round 14.

It was a feat Mills never thought he would achieve when his journey first started.

“I’ve been around Katty for 16 years now, but I didn’t think I’d get to 200 senior games,” Mills said.

“I never played junior footy so my first game was in reserves as a 21-year-old with not much experience at all.

“I just love Katty and the people there, it’s a real family club and it’s what has kept me coming back.”

A classic burst from the middle and goal on the run notched Mills an early milestone goal, celebrated rapturously by teammates.

“It was good to get it out the way early about five or six minutes into the first quarter,” he said.

“The boys got around me, it was a special moment.”

Playing under nephew Tom Clurey, the family ties are what has kept Mills playing well into his 30s - his loyalty duly rewarded with a flag in 2025.

The premiership was arguably secured off his own boot in a third quarter burst of Stuart Dew-esque brilliance where he kicked consecutive goals to give the Tigers the edge over Waaia.

“The top of the tree is definitely grand final day,” he said.

Katamatite's Mark Mills celebrates a goal in the 2025 PDL grand final. Photo by Liam Nash

“I didn’t have a lot of the footy but as a small forward you take your moments and I kicked a couple of goals in the third quarter when the game was tight.

“But I look back to 2011 when I first started, and I managed a few senior games that season because we were pretty average... but four or five of those teammates back then I then got to play with in the grand final.

“It just speaks volumes that it’s a club people love to stick around at.”

At 37-years-old, Mills admits the dangle of the carrot to reach 200 games kept him on for another year after considering going out on a high, although he won’t close off the notion of stringing together another milestone completely.

“Even four years ago, the body had a few niggles in the knee and I thought my time might nearly be up, but it’s been feeling good, especially last year was basically an injury-free run,” he said.

“We’re a chance to go all the way again this year, so I’ll play out to the season’s end, but then we’ll reassess.

“Listening to the body is the key, I’m nearly 38 and rely on my speed.

“250 is probably not on the cards, but hey, never say never.”