Player Watch Wayne Milera

[Jeffcrowe]

It's actually harder than that because Kelly is no longer playing in the backline.

Too many defenders.

Ideally Doedee will step up Rampe style and be able to handle the 2nd tall. Then Hartigan/Keath gets squeezed out against all but the tallest forward lines. We become extremely mobile then with heaps of rebound.

I don't have any faith that this will happen though. We'll just move Smith/Milera somewhere else.

Smith in midfield with a 26 yo body is worth a look

 

[BrissyCrow]

LOved some of the things that Milera did last night. Reminded me of the game he played earlier in the year where he was BOG. Whilst I know its early in his career I thought there was a touch of Silk with his evasive skills and his kicking delivery but the other thing I saw last night was his speed. he has it and when he has his confidence up he knows how to use it. Another 12 months will see us Milera turn into a major assest.

 

[douglyzia]

The guy really knows how to weave out of traffic. The only time he failed was when Selwood tripped him (but he got a free anyway).

 

[headache1]

I think Milera could be better suited to a midfield role. He works better in traffic than Smith and is starting to apply the defensive pressure.

Milera for Dougie in the midfield rotation could be the move eventually.

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Agreed. Smith is great at using change of angles to cut through the lines when he's moving at pace, but Milera is definitely more evasive in the tighter, slower situations.

 

[Golumless]

IMO he will leave at the end of the year. We have Milera, Seedsman, Smith and even McPherson in the future who all play his role better.

He just can't fit in, especially when you bear in mind the number of ACTUAL best 22 players we had out last night

I hope he does leave/gets delisted as well

We've long shown that we're willing to put up with a worse structure to accommodate him, or leave better options in the reserves.

 

[hey shorty]

I hope he does leave/gets delisted as well

We've long shown that we're willing to put up with a worse structure to accommodate him, or leave better options in the reserves.

True.

Milera has stepped up to another level. I hope last night, in the biggest of pressure games, we saw what we are going to see for the next 10 years.

 

[Golumless]

True.

Milera has stepped up to another level. I hope last night, in the biggest of pressure games, we saw what we are going to see for the next 10 years.

I'd say Richmond was a bigger pressure game, but he did work his way into that well.

He did look very good, and I loved that he is both showing to be eager to do the defensive work and run with the ball. Developing into a very good half back.

 

[relapse]

Milera was great last night, not just what he did with the ball, but also with his defensive efforts.

I have been a little harsh on him thus far, but last night was definitely a massive tick.

Maybe he has found his niche in defense.

 

[GreyCrow]

I do like how people are trampolines. Jump on jump off jump back on

Its a regular thing for players under 20 games let alone 50. I have been happy with Mileras game and think there is so much more upside. Needs to do a few more things and believe in himself a bit more but tracking nicely. Going to have a real breakout year very soon

 

[Bay62]

Milera was great last night, not just what he did with the ball, but also with his defensive efforts.

I have been a little harsh on him thus far, but last night was definitely a massive tick.

Maybe he has found his niche in defense.

His marking was a pleasant surprise last night too

Great to have a small quick player who can take a grab too. As can the Gooch

 

[GrommoT]

I have my doubts he'll ever make that switch, seeing he's our best outside midfielder currently.

Providing all stay fit (no mean feat right now), an outside battery of Smith, Milera, Seedsman and Atkins is a pretty salivating thought.

 

[Betts are off]

The thing I thought was most noticeable about Jnr's game last night (and at times throughout the season), Is that he ran HARD! I've been banging the drum about his dawdling from contest to contest, and his half paced chasing of opponents for the last 2 years. It was one of my biggest pet peeves as a spectator.

But when he runs hard through the ball he's an absolute joy to watch. I think he might just be one of those players who needs a rocket before the game to get him in the right headspace! Cause when he's on, he's the missing piece of the puzzle that this team is absolutely desperate for!

 

[azza77]

I think Milera could be better suited to a midfield role. He works better in traffic than Smith and is starting to apply the defensive pressure.

Milera for Dougie in the midfield rotation could be the move eventually.

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Have always maintained we need to develop Milera into very much a Daniel Wells type, it suits his ability and game style to a tee. Hopefully he's learning a lot down back and building some confidence as he gets his hands on the ball a lot more.

 

[azza77]

Would love to see it

Everytime we've trialled Smith with stints in the middle he barely even resembles a shadow of his normal self. He just can't seem to make it work.

Just seems to read the game so much better from the backlines. We have Atkins, Milera and Seedsman now. Think we should keep Smith where he is most damaging for us.

 

[Jarman3]

The thing I thought was most noticeable about Jnr's game last night (and at times throughout the season), Is that he ran HARD! I've been banging the drum about his dawdling from contest to contest, and his half paced chasing of opponents for the last 2 years. It was one of my biggest pet peeves as a spectator.

But when he runs hard through the ball he's an absolute joy to watch. I think he might just be one of those players who needs a rocket before the game to get him in the right headspace! Cause when he's on, he's the missing piece of the puzzle that this team is absolutely desperate for!

Yeah, that's how I saw it, too. I've always said that he clearly has the ability, but the issue with him is more around the lack of intensity. Too often he looks like he's just running along at 60% or milling about aimlessly on the fringes of a contest waiting and hoping the the ball will come out. This year there has still been a fair bit of that, but he has played a handful of very good games like last night that make me think he will make it. I'm not completely buying in yet, but I at least have him on lay-by now

When we've played him across half back he's looked like a potential gun. Play him at half forward and he looks like a middling SANFL player. Definitely needs to develop another string to his bow in addition to half back, whether that's as a forward or maybe on a wing or something. It'll be interesting next year if we're able to rotate Smith, Laird, Seedsman and Milera all through half-back / midfield.

 

[mattymac]

I think we also need to realise that not having dmac running into corridor spaces to faff it up with his seniority allows Milera to run into those spaces and use his skill set

 

[Betts are off]

Yeah, that's how I saw it, too. I've always said that he clearly has the ability, but the issue with him is more around the lack of intensity. Too often he looks like he's just running along at 60% or milling about aimlessly on the fringes of a contest waiting and hoping the the ball will come out. This year there has still been a fair bit of that, but he has played a handful of very good games like last night that make me think he will make it. I'm not completely buying in yet, but I at least have him on lay-by now

When we've played him across half back he's looked like a potential gun. Play him at half forward and he looks like a middling SANFL player. Definitely needs to develop another string to his bow in addition to half back, whether that's as a forward or maybe on a wing or something. It'll be interesting next year if we're able to rotate Smith, Laird, Seedsman and Milera all through half-back / midfield.

Yeah I wouldn't move him off that HBF for the rest of the season, even when Smith comes back. Smith wont be able to go as long as he usually does from all the time away so will need to rotate quite heavily. So it will be cool to seem them split that role this year.

Next year rotating those 2 off a wing or in the Mid, yeah i'm all for it!

 

[LoBu]

Everytime we've trialled Smith with stints in the middle he barely even resembles a shadow of his normal self. He just can't seem to make it work.

Just seems to read the game so much better from the backlines. We have Atkins, Milera and Seedsman now. Think we should keep Smith where he is most damaging for us.

Yeah maybe, but he hasn't had a good run at it as injuries always put him back, he did a whole pre-season a couple of years ago with the mids, but hasn't really had a good shot. Seedsman makes a difference though.

 

[rezagun]

Runs the lines so well off hb. Took some great marks aswell. Is going to be a very good player for us.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Everytime we've trialled Smith with stints in the middle he barely even resembles a shadow of his normal self. He just can't seem to make it work.

Just seems to read the game so much better from the backlines. We have Atkins, Milera and Seedsman now. Think we should keep Smith where he is most damaging for us.

Give it another go he's more mature now and bigger body

He's a 1st round pick as a mid which isn't to be sneezed at

Time we made the side more flexible, he can rotate across half back anyway

 

[MRB37]

Runs the lines so well off hb. Took some great marks aswell. Is going to be a very good player for us.

The marks were probably what impressed me the most. Big bonus if you can have a smaller rebounding guy take contested marks in the back half.

 

[SydCrow]

looking for all the posters who claimed he is soft at the contest

 

[Lethality]

looking for all the posters who claimed he is soft at the contest

He might not be strong enough forward of the ball yet. Really good off half-back though, that's probably his best position with his run and delivery. 91% disposal effectiveness with high metres gained is elite.

 

[mattymac]

Everytime we've trialled Smith with stints in the middle he barely even resembles a shadow of his normal self. He just can't seem to make it work.

Just seems to read the game so much better from the backlines. We have Atkins, Milera and Seedsman now. Think we should keep Smith where he is most damaging for us.

Nah there were times, can't remember the year any more maybe 2014, when he looked crazy good in there. We've pigeon holed him at HB because there was no one else imo

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I hope he does leave/gets delisted as well

We've long shown that we're willing to put up with a worse structure to accommodate him, or leave better options in the reserves.

We'll come up with something

"Manage" Gallucci maybe