AFL draft 2015: Heart condition won’t hold back Wayne Milera

NEW Crow Wayne Milera was shocked when doctors told him he had a rare heart condition, but he showed AFL recruiters it would not slow him down.

South Australian draft hopeful Wayne Milera at Etihad Stadium.

FOR new Crows recruit Wayne Milera, starring in this yearÂ’s SANFL first semi-final was about more than just helping Central District win.

It was also about showing AFL recruiters he felt fine.

Thirteen days before kicking three goals and gathering 17 disposals in the Bulldogs’ victory over Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, Milera had keyhole surgery to address a heart condition.

The smooth moving half-forward was diagnosed midyear with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which causes an increased heartbeat, and was told it needed to be corrected.

The surgery caused him to miss Central’s upset elimination final win over reigning premier Norwood so he was determined to make up for it.

“Missing that Norwood game, I was shattered,” Milera, 18, says.

“I wanted to get back in the team straight away and I guess show people that it wasn’t going to affect me throughout my life, hasn’t affected me playing sport and that it wasn’t going to affect me after (surgery).”

Milera’s condition was uncovered when he had an electrocardiogram during his national under-18 titles’ medical testing.

He had never had heart problems so was stunned when the state team’s doctor told him he had been living with the condition.

“I was in shock.

“I was worried it would affect my chances of getting picked up.

“The family was also a bit worried but once the specialist told us once I got the surgery done we wouldn’t have to worry about it, they were pretty calm.”

Wayne Milera takes a strong mark in the SANFL first semi-final. Picture: Sarah Reed

Former Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs player Nathan Eagleton also had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

His condition was revealed after he collapsed on the members’ wing of Football Park while playing for the Power in 1999.

Milera, of Elizabeth East, is glad he can stop worrying about the condition.

“I feel fine and haven’t noticed any difference. I’m very relieved.”

Milera was among a dozen Croweaters at the AFL draft combine for physical and mental testing at Etihad Stadium.

@SANFL draft hopeful Wayne Milera on the 20m sprint #AFLCombine pic.twitter.com/iRcalyezEL

— Dave Reynolds (@DaveR_SANFL) October 9, 2015

Milera’s rise has come quicker than he expected.

Not so long ago he would kick the footy with his younger brother Tyrone in a park near his home while pretending to be Andrew McLeod.

Or try to learn the ropes off his father Wayne Sr, a former Central District reserves player, and Bulldogs’ development manager Scott Stevens.

Milera, an Ingle Farm junior, did not make a state squad until this past season and last year played the first 13 games with the Bulldogs’ under-18s.

But playing well in three reserves games at the end of last year gave him confidence going into his first senior pre-season.

“It helped a lot.

“This year I wanted to play at least three games and get picked for the state (under-18) team.”