For the previous two years Wayne Milera has sat on the sidelines throughout Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Sure it has been irritating.
But if there’s a constructive that the Adelaide defender can take from watching on, it’s that he has been capable of see a unique facet to one of many rounds he appears to be like ahead to most on the fixture checklist.
“It is always one you are excited to play in as an Aboriginal person,” Milera advised The Advertiser.
“It is extra special, you get to wear the (Indigenous) guernsey. That’s one part of it and you also have all the stuff before it with the build-up and the game day.
“Normally we don’t get to see it because we are warming up but for me not playing in it for the last two years I’ve actually been able to experience it.
“All the build-up, the welcome to country and the dancing on the ground, it just brings an energy to the ground.
“It is pretty cool and beautiful to see and I would recommend that everyone maybe comes a bit early to see it.”
In 2021 Milera watched Sir Doug Nicholls Round on the sidelines whereas rehabbing from a torn patella tendon he suffered in pre-season.
Last 12 months he was out of the Crows facet for his or her house Indigenous Round sport towards St Kilda, earlier than returning to the facet the next week once they travelled to Geelong.
Now firmly entrenched within the Crows defence the Narangga man from his dad’s facet and Wotjobaluk and Gunditjmara from his mum is trying ahead to taking part in his half for the crew on this 12 months’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
The Crows tackle the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat on Saturday earlier than internet hosting Brisbane at Adelaide Oval subsequent week of their Indigenous Round house sport.
“It means a lot to Indigenous people,” Milera stated.
“I think it is an important round, we are getting a lot more people involved in it and the boys at the club we have had a couple of guernseys floating around over the last couple of weeks and we have had boys come in and sort of wanting to know the story behind it.
“I think it is definitely important for the non-Indigenous people
“Yeah it is really cool, it what we all want we want people to be asking and not being afraid to ask if they have a question.
“It is like with anything, it might be a young bloke asking about the game plan, it is like that we want to share our culture and this round is a great platform to do it.
“But it is not just about doing it this round, it is doing it the whole year and educating the non-Indigenous people.”
‘WE HAVE EACH OTHER’S BACK’
Education is particularly essential to Milera this 12 months.
He’s watched new Crows teammate Izak Rankine obtain racist messages after a sport.
“It’s really disappointing, he has come home and is playing good footy for us and the last thing he wants is to be racially abused online,” he stated.
“We are just here to play footy, we are like everyday people when we aren’t playing footy so I think the online stuff is just not needed and it just causes hurt.
“People should treat people how they would want to be treated and with respect.
“That was something I was brought up with and you hope that people would do the same thing.
“But obviously some people don’t.”
At 25 and with 82 video games performed Milera is probably the most senior of the Crows Indigenous contingent.
When Rankine obtained the racist assault, Milera stated the membership wrapped their arms round him.
“For us as a club and players it was just about making sure he knows that we are all hear for him and we are supportive of him and if there is anything he needed for him to reach out,” he stated.
“I know the club has done great work with him and looking after him and making sure he is alright.
“That is sort of the main thing, we want to let him know that he is supported and that we have his back.
“I think it is more so just making sure he is alright, it is not really a leadership role as such but you just let him know that we are here for him.”
It is an method Milera is taking when different Indigenous and multicultural gamers within the league are on the tip of on-line assaults.
“At the Indigenous and Multicultural players’ camp this year we spoke about that looking after each other and standing up and letting everyone know that we have each other’s back,” he stated.
This transcends membership rivalries.
“Junior Rioli got a racial comment recently so it is about looking after our mates and making sure that they are alright,” he stated.
“I think it has been good, I guess it is just about throwing your support around each other.
“That is something that we wanted to focus on and you see people getting around each other and trying to stamp it out.”
BODY AND BABY
On the sector the previous three years haven’t been what Milera would have needed.
He solely managed two video games in 2020 and 2021 due to a number of accidents.
Last 12 months he performed Round 1 then he was out of the AFL facet till Round 11.
This 12 months it has been completely different.
Apart from lacking Round 2 with a groin criticism he has performed each sport.
And importantly he’s beginning to present why the Crows gave him a long-term deal in 2020, with 26 disposals in his final sport towards St Kilda.
Milera stated this was right down to a new-found confidence in his physique.
“I had a really good off-season and pre-season, I pretty much did everything there,” he stated.
“So I’m really happy with my body right now and how it is going.
“My knee got to a stage where it was pretty much pain free throughout the off-season and with the help of our physios, our strength and conditioning coach and Burgo (high performance manager Darren Burgess) I think it just got to a stage where I was able to run and be pain free.
“That was the main thing and it was the same thing through the pre-season, after every session I was pulling up fine.”
Two-year-old son Carter has additionally given Milera a brand new perspective and even method to footy.
“It is always fun going home, you switch off from footy because you have other priorities,” he stated.
“When I get home it is just my little family, I love it.”
This was massive for Milera particularly when he was out of the crew by way of both damage or type.
“It was a (distraction) obviously I was still frustrated but yeah it was like an outlet where you have no choice to not worry about it if you have a screaming kid in front of you and he is hungry you can’t think about footy can you?” he stated.
“So it was good to have an outlet, taking him to the park and seeing the smile on his face, getting a hug when you come home from footy.
“I think it is just the mental side of it if you don’t have an outlet footy is just what you think about.
“Some people are really good with that balance and some are on the other end of the scale where they think about footy flat out.
“I was probably a little bit like that before but now with the little one it has helped as well, just taking your mind off it.
“And when I’m in the club it is all about footy and getting down to work.”
Originally printed as Crows star Wayne Milera talks Sir Doug Nicholls Round after years on sideline
Source: www.news.com.au
