Preview Round 1 - Adelaide v St Kilda @ Adelaide Oval

[Punchy Bassett]

Well here we are, Nicks first big test of the year already.

 

[Punchy Bassett]

I just want us to win, I don't care how or by how much. 4 points from winning is more important than anything else

Disagree, if we win but it's by slow dour football, it shows Nicks has learnt nothing.

 

[Mutineer]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/adelaide-crows-selection-news-wayne-milera-to-play-round-1-sid-draper-trains-in-b-team/news-story/dd43bcaad20ee52374d58062424c5d84

Adelaide Crows selection news: Wayne Milera to play round 1, Sid Draper trains in ‘B team’​

There could be as many as four fresh faces in Crows colours this weekend — but will one of them be Sid Draper? See who is in line to play here.

Adelaide looks set to play Wayne Milera in Round 1 against St Kilda for his 100th game at AFL level despite the dashing defender not playing any minutes in the Crows’ official Community Series match.
Milera played a half in the Crows’ practice match against Port Adelaide at Mount Barker but then missed their pre-season clash against Brisbane in Queensland because of a quad injury.

The 27-year-old played just the three games for the Crows in 2024 after rupturing his patella tendon against Fremantle in Round 3.

It followed on from another knee injury and a foot issue plaguing Milera in recent years.

But despite his lack of footy - and the strong performance of Luke Nankervis against the Lions - the Crows look set to include Milera in their Round 1 team to take on the Saints on Sunday.
While it was a light session at West Lakes on Tuesday, Milera was in the Crows’ strongest team’s defence when they did some positional work at the end of the session.

Nankervis was in the B team, along with No. 4 draft pick Sid Draper
Key forward Riley Thilthorpe did not take part in that part of the session, after being involved in earlier drills, while key defender Mark Keane joined in after it was originally planned he sit out the final part.

The Irishman is set to be available for selection after he hurt his quad against the Lions, with fellow defender Max Michalanney also expected to be fine after his thumb injury in the internal trial.

 

[pjcrows]

 

[NTRabbit]

Rushing back Milera, who has never been able to defend in his life, and now apparently can't kick anymore thanks to his copious leg injuries.

Undestandable that pick 4 "AFL ready" Draper can't break into our absolutely stacked bottom 4 midfield, I mean who is he going to knock out from round 23 last year? Crab? Laird? Sholl? Taylor? Berry? Dowling?

Extend Nicks now imo, before the price goes up!

 

[Thrillthorpe7]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/adelaide-crows-selection-news-wayne-milera-to-play-round-1-sid-draper-trains-in-b-team/news-story/dd43bcaad20ee52374d58062424c5d84

Adelaide Crows selection news: Wayne Milera to play round 1, Sid Draper trains in ‘B team’​

There could be as many as four fresh faces in Crows colours this weekend — but will one of them be Sid Draper? See who is in line to play here.

Didn’t this A vs B team thing lose a lot of reliability last year as to the side picked? They can’t just have our best team beating up on the B side.

Draper in B side makes sense if he’s sub as we all assume. Do we know who was in both teams?

 

[1970crow]

We've got options now and, like last season, the expectations are finals.

It's easy to play rookies when the alternative is some dudlinger but playing Draper would mean someone decent misses out. Also easy when winning is seen as a bonus, unlike now.

Early test for Nicks.

Exactly, the test is who was fit and available and relegated to SANFL practice matches. But I think Draper gets in ahead of the Jones, Dowling, Taylor, Pedlar types.

 

[rocket18]

Surely not even Nicks is this thick.

Hold fire till selection night.

 

[Geoffa32]

I will be happy if all of these guys play

Michalanney
Curtin
Draper
Nankervis

Expecting Laird to play

Will shake my head if Milera plays.

 

[NTRabbit]

Exactly, the test is who was fit and available and relegated to SANFL practice matches. But I think Draper gets in ahead of the Jones, Dowling, Taylor, Pedlar types.

Starting to look like none of them are getting in, including Draper.

From round 24 last year, Dowling, Taylor, Berry, Nankervis, Jones/Curtin out, Rankine, Rachele, Peatling, Cumming, Milera in, plus ANB and Keane for Murphy and Borlase.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Surely not even Nicks is this thick.

Hold fire till selection night.

Reckon we are going to get a repeat of last year with Nankervis unfortunately.

If so, this will reinforce Nicks isn't a slow learner, he is a no learner.

 

[Thylacinus]

I think we will win comfortably against the Saints. Our first real test will then be the following week against Essendon.

 

[MrBarry]

The Milera selection just doesn't make any logical sense.... He's hardly played for 2 years.

 

[cleanhands]

The Milera selection just doesn't make any logical sense.... He's hardly played for 2 years.

It does to Nicks

 

[MRB37]

The Milera selection just doesn't make any logical sense.... He's hardly played for 2 years.

And last time we rushed him straight back into the AFL side they quickly had to drop him again. But we seem to like to repeat the same mistakes.

Will we win? I'm still burnt by that Richmond cluster**** last year. We've recruited well. We look a stronger side than last year. But we still have the same coach.

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That Richmond game was predictable as all hell. We were desperate for a win, and whenever we get desperate Nicks exerts more control than ever and those are the types of games where we suck.

 

[Trigger13]

Anyone else concerned about Thilly’s back injury (or whatever it is he’s dealing with). The bloke seems to be rested a lot at training.

 

[FR0GGY]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/adelaide-crows-selection-news-wayne-milera-to-play-round-1-sid-draper-trains-in-b-team/news-story/dd43bcaad20ee52374d58062424c5d84

Adelaide Crows selection news: Wayne Milera to play round 1, Sid Draper trains in ‘B team’​

There could be as many as four fresh faces in Crows colours this weekend — but will one of them be Sid Draper? See who is in line to play here.

Bloody hell

 

[cleanhands]

Anyone else concerned about Thilly’s back injury (or whatever it is he’s dealing with). The bloke seems to be rested a lot at training.

He does appear to be a little fragile

 

[jirkago1975]

Draper has to play, surely!! With him, Peatling and Cummings in the team, we will have that express pace that we’ve been craving for. In big games, they are the ones that can do something special and will make the difference. Our midfield has been poor for a number of years and now we have the cattle to be as good as any in there. We have workhorses, players with pace and X factor players.
If Nicks doesn’t make finals or racks up early loses, there will be no excuses from now on! Need him to get aggressive and mean and demand the absolute best from his players because they are holding his job in their hands.


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[Scorpus]

Surely no one is surprised by the Milera call

 

[Cromulant]

He does appear to be a little fragile

I think we are just extra cautious, Burgo knows what he's doing

 

[cleanhands]

I think we are just extra cautious, Burgo knows what he's doing

Maybe that’s why we are cautious

 

[maxlilly]

Anyone else concerned about Thilly’s back injury (or whatever it is he’s dealing with). The bloke seems to be rested a lot at training.

He was sore before the Brisbane trial but we still flew him up there and played him in a nothing match instead of resting him for round 1

 

[maxlilly]

Surely no one is surprised by the Milera call

Looks like Nicks is going for the feel good story, player comes back after 2 years of injuries and plays his 100th game

 

[whattagun07]

1-4 in R1 under Nicks
1-6 in R1 since the 2017 GF loss.

These have included some absolute shockers, and some where we absolutely gave away a win on offer.

Forgive me for expecting the worst.