Crows star Wayne Milera talks Sir Doug Nicholls Round after years on sideline

Sir Doug Nicholls Round is one of the fixtures Wayne Milera looks forward to the most. Two years watching on the sidelines has only further reinforced his passion for the weekend.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 14: Wayne Milera of the Crows thanks the fans after the round nine AFL match between Adelaide Crows and St Kilda Saints at Adelaide Oval, on May 14, 2023, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

For the past two years Wayne Milera has sat on the sidelines during Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

Sure it has been frustrating.

But if there is a positive that the Adelaide defender can take from watching on, it’s that he has been able to see a different side to one of the rounds he looks forward to most on the fixture list.

“It is always one you are excited to play in as an Aboriginal person,” Milera told 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 while rehabbing from a torn patella tendon he suffered in pre-season.

Last year he was out of the Crows side for their home Indigenous Round game against St Kilda, before returning to the side the following week when they travelled to Geelong.

Crows players Wayne Milera, Isaya McKenzie, Tariek Newchurch, Blayne O'Loughlin, Shane McAdam and Izak Rankine pose in the jumper designed by Danielle Ponter's Aunty April Napangardi Campbell. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Now firmly entrenched in the Crows defence the Narangga man from his dad’s side and Wotjobaluk and Gunditjmara from his mum is looking forward to playing his part for the team in this year’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

The Crows take on the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat on Saturday before hosting Brisbane at Adelaide Oval next week in their Indigenous Round home game.

“It means a lot to Indigenous people,” Milera said.

“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 especially important to Milera this year.

He’s watched new Crows teammate Izak Rankine receive racist messages after a game.

“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 said.

“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.”

Rankine was sent a racist message following a game. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

At 25 and with 82 games played Milera is the most senior of the Crows Indigenous contingent.

When Rankine received the racist attack, Milera said the club wrapped their arms around him.

“For us as a club and players it was just about making sure he knows that we are all here for him and we are supportive of him and if there is anything he needed for him to reach out,” he said.

“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 approach Milera is taking when other Indigenous and multicultural players in the league are on the end of online attacks.

“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 said.

This transcends club rivalries.

“Junior Rioli got a racial comment recently so it is about looking after our mates and making sure that they are alright,” he said.

“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 field the past three years haven’t been what Milera would have wanted.

He only managed two games in 2020 and 2021 because of multiple injuries.

Last year he played Round 1 then he was out of the AFL side until Round 11.

This year it has been different.

Apart from missing Round 2 with a groin complaint he has played every game.

Milera has only missed one game this year. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

And importantly he is starting to show why the Crows gave him a long-term deal in 2020, with 26 disposals in his last game against St Kilda.

Milera said this was down to a new-found confidence in his body.

“I had a really good off-season and pre-season, I pretty much did everything there,” he said.

“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 also given Milera a new perspective and even approach to footy.

“It is always fun going home, you switch off from footy because you have other priorities,” he said.

“When I get home it is just my little family, I love it.”

This was big for Milera especially when he was out of the team through either injury or form.

“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 said.

“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.”