Star Crows playmaker Wayne Milera could miss up to six weeks with shoulder injury

Adelaide playmaker Wayne Milera could be sidelined for up to six weeks after suffering a ‘relatively serious’ AC joint injury in the 73-point demoltion of Gold Coast on Sunday.

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Adelaide playmaker Wayne Milera could be sidelined for up to six weeks after suffering a “relatively serious’’ AC joint injury in Easter Sunday’s victory over Gold Coast.

He hurt his left shoulder in a collision with the Suns’ Pearce Hanley just before half-time and did not reappear after the long break.

“Wayne’s got an AC (injury) which we are going to get scanned but it looks relatively serious,’’ said Crows coach Don Pyke.

“Once we get the scans we’ll be able to put a bit more light on that but I’d suspect he’ll be out for a reasonable chunk of time.

“At the moment, they can’t really estimate but I’d say it’s going to be north of four to six weeks.’’

Wayne Milera, with his arm in a sling, right, congratulates Brodie Smith after his 150th game. Picture SARAH REED

The classy Milera will join lead ruckman Sam Jacobs, key defender Tom Doedee and long-kicking wingman Paul Seedsman (knees), veteran midfielder Richard Douglas (ankle) and small defender Luke Brown (foot/ankle) on the injury list.

A relieved Pyke was pleased with the Crows’ convincing win after a tough week in which the players and coaches had been seriously questioned following a poor start to the season.

“It’s a difficult week when you have a lot of focus and attention on what we are doing as a footy club,’’ he said.

“But I never lost faith or belief in the players and the character of those guys to respond the way they did.

“I’m just rapt for the players, they are the guys who get to go and play the game.

“They had a really good week on the track, they focused on the things we knew were going to help us create winning and they executed them, so all credit to them.’’

Pyke said Adelaide had a ‘pretty heavy focus on our contest work’’ against Gold Coast and that after a tough start when only one goal was kicked in the first term, it got its renowned running game going.

“After an early arm wrestle when both teams were going at it and there was fair pressure in the game, I thought in the second quarter we maintained a rage around the ball and started to create some opportunities and hit the scoreboard,’’ he said.

“The reality for us was that it was a good, strong win, playing the way we want to play and we saw some really positive signs. But it’s one win and we’ve still got some work to do.’’

Pyke named Myles Poholke, Patrick Wilson, Tyson Stengle and Chayce Jones, who missed the Suns clash with concussion, as contenders to take Milera’s spot.