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Player Watch Wayne Milera

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lacrow said:
I gotta admit, I never understood the 1001 chances the club kept giving Milera. Never saw anything elite in him at all. However, I will gladly admit that I was wrong in the sense that - though I still believe he doesn't bring anything elite - he has definitely become rock solid. And tbh that's more than satisfactory.
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He's had elite movement in traffic and strength in the tackle from day dot.
 
GreyCrow said:
Love the re-writing of history by the usual suspects - good to see you find the place after a win

Wayne has been ok to good - started out rusty - which was a lot of the concern over his management

Some wanted his early management done through the SANFL - and there were certainly moments when it looked like he was off the pace

But credit to himself and the coaches for choosing another pathway - he is holding his own in the team
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This. Most of his alleged "critics" or naysayers were actually huge fans who just wanted him to have a couple of weeks in the SANFL so he hit the ground running. I still think he would have been just as good now had he had a few weeks in the seconds before coming back in.

Wayne has had an excellent season since some of that rust fell away, now a huge contributor.
 
Thanks for the responses guys. I guess I'll disagree on his "elite" features. Guy is a good player in my eyes and definitely an asset, but I just don't see the elite level. His kicks hit targets, yes, but they are always short, safe kicks - again, which I'm perfectly happy with.

His movement in traffic is very nice but "elite" is someone like Rankine, Dawson, Kosi Pickett, NWM, etc. Same goes for his tackle breaking strength. He's no Dustin Martin or Dangerfield let's be honest. He's not even in consideration for AA.

HOWEVER, I am loving what the guy brings to the table in the last 1/2 of the season. Champion teams are made up of majority players just like him. No team has 18 Bontempelli's after all.

Again, just to be clear, I freely admit I was wrong about the guy and am glad the club persisted with him.
 

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Carn The Texan said:
This. Most of his alleged "critics" or naysayers were actually huge fans who just wanted him to have a couple of weeks in the SANFL so he hit the ground running. I still think he would have been just as good now had he had a few weeks in the seconds before coming back in.

Wayne has had an excellent season since some of that rust fell away, now a huge contributor.
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He's had very few huge fans in recent years. Even mid year he didn't have many fans despite playing solid footy.
 
cmndstab said:
I was one of those calling for Nankervis to be in over Milera at the start of the year. But even so, I freely acknowledged that a fit and in-form Milera is a weapon, and certainly ahead of the 2025 version of Nankervis.

The issue was that we had seen Milera return from serious injuries multiple times before, very much not fit and not in form, and spend ages getting back up to speed, only to get injured again. There was no reason to expect this time would be any different... and let's face it, players don't often improve after multiple serious injuries. The feeling was we had probably already seen the best of Milera, well below the heights that he should have reached.

And besides all that, very few people were expecting us to seriously contend this year. The feeling was, let's fast-track the development of our younger players so we can start our premiership thrust in 2026.

Thankfully, Milera got back to his best form fairly quickly and has been a valuable member of the team all year. Which is fortunate, as we need his type heading into September.

If we were languishing near the bottom of the ladder, I would still be frustrated at the likes of Nankervis being kept out the side by experienced senior players, even if they are better players. But since we're at the top of the ladder and at the pointy end of the season, playing our best team is clearly the correct strategy.
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And Nanks preseason form was better and Mileras wasn’t good, but this sums it up well
 
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Milera to replace Rankine in September?

He is in career best form in the backlines, but we have depth there and Michalenney will return.

We have two solid hard workers in Neale-Bullen and Keays and Taylor as the 7th forward/extra mid rotation when Rachele returns.

We need X-Factor, ball use and class and Milera in his current form is elite. I think he could play a role similar to AhChee from Brisbane. He is highly skilled, evasive, high footy IQ, let him loose. I remember seeing him kick a bag for Central playing forward in a Final before he got drafted.

It's a gamble, but I think it makes the forward line more dangerous than with Murphy or Pedlar and gives us something different, albeit forced upon us with Rankine's suspension.

Best Finals Team
B: Bond Murray Hinge
HB: Michalanney Keane Worrell
C: Cumming Dawson Curtin
HF: Keays Fogarty Neale-Bullen
F: Walker Thilthorpe Milera
R: O'Brien Peatling Soligo
I: Berry Rachele Laird Taylor
Sub Pedlar
 
glengowan said:
Milera to replace Rankine in September?

He is in career best form in the backlines, but we have depth there and Michalenney will return.

We have two solid hard workers in Neale-Bullen and Keays and Taylor as the 7th forward/extra mid rotation when Rachele returns.

We need X-Factor, ball use and class and Milera in his current form is elite. I think he could play a role similar to AhChee from Brisbane. He is highly skilled, evasive, high footy IQ, let him loose. I remember seeing him kick a bag for Central playing forward in a Final before he got drafted.

It's a gamble, but I think it makes the forward line more dangerous than with Murphy or Pedlar and gives us something different, albeit forced upon us with Rankine's suspension.

Best Finals Team
B: Bond Murray Hinge
HB: Michalanney Keane Worrell
C: Cumming Dawson Curtin
HF: Keays Fogarty Neale-Bullen
F: Walker Thilthorpe Milera
R: O'Brien Peatling Soligo
I: Berry Rachele Laird Taylor
Sub Pedlar
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We aren’t messing with what Milera is doing back there.

Max up forward or Bond unfortunately dropped.

Rach and Pedlar to replace Rankine and Murphy.
 

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George CantStandYa said:
We aren’t messing with what Milera is doing back there.

Max up forward or Bond unfortunately dropped.

Rach and Pedlar to replace Rankine and Murphy.
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Steady on, Murph is in career best form, did you see his shutdown job on Daicos, didn't go within 5 metres of him but that was enough to put Josh off his game
 
glengowan said:
Milera to replace Rankine in September?

He is in career best form in the backlines, but we have depth there and Michalenney will return.

We have two solid hard workers in Neale-Bullen and Keays and Taylor as the 7th forward/extra mid rotation when Rachele returns.

We need X-Factor, ball use and class and Milera in his current form is elite. I think he could play a role similar to AhChee from Brisbane. He is highly skilled, evasive, high footy IQ, let him loose. I remember seeing him kick a bag for Central playing forward in a Final before he got drafted.

It's a gamble, but I think it makes the forward line more dangerous than with Murphy or Pedlar and gives us something different, albeit forced upon us with Rankine's suspension.

Best Finals Team
B: Bond Murray Hinge
HB: Michalanney Keane Worrell
C: Cumming Dawson Curtin
HF: Keays Fogarty Neale-Bullen
F: Walker Thilthorpe Milera
R: O'Brien Peatling Soligo
I: Berry Rachele Laird Taylor
Sub Pedlar
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I'm not against trying Milera as an option against the Roos... even if it only gives us a option during finals if we need to mix things up on rhe day.

We also have the ability to push Cumming back if needed on match day to move Milera up forward.

More flexibility the better.
 
Kane McGoodwin said:
I'm not against trying Milera as an option against the Roos... even if it only gives us a option during finals if we need to mix things up on rhe day.

We also have the ability to push Cumming back if needed on match day to move Milera up forward.

More flexibility the better.
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No, you don't do this against the Roos. You wait until needed in a final.
 
glengowan said:
Milera to replace Rankine in September?

He is in career best form in the backlines, but we have depth there and Michalenney will return.

We have two solid hard workers in Neale-Bullen and Keays and Taylor as the 7th forward/extra mid rotation when Rachele returns.

We need X-Factor, ball use and class and Milera in his current form is elite. I think he could play a role similar to AhChee from Brisbane. He is highly skilled, evasive, high footy IQ, let him loose. I remember seeing him kick a bag for Central playing forward in a Final before he got drafted.

It's a gamble, but I think it makes the forward line more dangerous than with Murphy or Pedlar and gives us something different, albeit forced upon us with Rankine's suspension.

Best Finals Team
B: Bond Murray Hinge
HB: Michalanney Keane Worrell
C: Cumming Dawson Curtin
HF: Keays Fogarty Neale-Bullen
F: Walker Thilthorpe Milera
R: O'Brien Peatling Soligo
I: Berry Rachele Laird Taylor
Sub Pedlar
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I dont mind this.

Unfortunately I fear Nicks, as good as he has been this year, is more of a conservative coach and less likely to throw the magnets around.

Small forward out, small forward in. I reckon its Rachele, Pedlar, Murphy in that order, subject to availability.
 
Kane McGoodwin said:
I'm not against trying Milera as an option against the Roos... even if it only gives us a option during finals if we need to mix things up on rhe day.

We also have the ability to push Cumming back if needed on match day to move Milera up forward.

More flexibility the better.
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Also gives us the ability to keep Bond in and play Max back.
 

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glengowan said:
Milera to replace Rankine in September?

He is in career best form in the backlines, but we have depth there and Michalenney will return.

We have two solid hard workers in Neale-Bullen and Keays and Taylor as the 7th forward/extra mid rotation when Rachele returns.

We need X-Factor, ball use and class and Milera in his current form is elite. I think he could play a role similar to AhChee from Brisbane. He is highly skilled, evasive, high footy IQ, let him loose. I remember seeing him kick a bag for Central playing forward in a Final before he got drafted.

It's a gamble, but I think it makes the forward line more dangerous than with Murphy or Pedlar and gives us something different, albeit forced upon us with Rankine's suspension.

Best Finals Team
B: Bond Murray Hinge
HB: Michalanney Keane Worrell
C: Cumming Dawson Curtin
HF: Keays Fogarty Neale-Bullen
F: Walker Thilthorpe Milera
R: O'Brien Peatling Soligo
I: Berry Rachele Laird Taylor
Sub Pedlar
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I love the idea of Milera forward as he was drafted and played as one.

I think if we did have him there AND kept Bond, Smith would be in the side in lieu of Pedlar.
 
Cromulant said:
Weve tried it, it didnt work.

Guy is in career best nick as a half back.
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Last time we tried it was in 2022 as I recall, nothing worked that year.

I think if we wanted to try something different its a valid move. Especially on the fly in a final.
 
davos44 said:
Last time we tried it was in 2022 as I recall, nothing worked that year.

I think if we wanted to try something different its a valid move. Especially on the fly in a final.
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Id be trying it this week, but moving a guy in career best form at the other end of the field is a big jump.
 

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