Adelaide Crows defender Wayne Milera signs new deal ahead of West Coast clash

One of Adelaide’s most-talented players spent big chunks of his previous five-year deal on the sidelines. But, out-of-contract and injury-free, this is a new Wayne Milera.

Adelaide defender Wayne Milera has signed a three-year contract extension to remain at the club.

The 27-year-old was out of contract at the end of the season and, after playing every game so far this year, Adelaide has moved to sign him until the end of 2028.

His new-found durability comes off the back of three injury-impacted years over the life of his previous five-year deal at West Lakes.

Wayne Milera celebrates a Crows win with his son.

He played two games across 2020-21 because of foot and knee injuries, and last year only played the three matches before another knee issue.

But the resilience Milera has shown has impressed key figures at West Lakes, with Crows list manager Justin Reid saying he had shown strong work ethic and strength of character.

“There is no doubting Wayne’s talent and ability to influence games and with an injury-free run, we can see him taking his game to another level,” Reid said.

“He’s got the trust and respect of his teammates and his creativity and composure with the ball in hand adds an important dimension to our backline.”

Milera is glad to be over the injury issues which have plagued his career.

Milera was drafted by the Crows with the No.11 pick in the 2015 draft.

“It’s great to be playing week in, week out this season and the body is feeling really good,” Milera said.

“I’ve obviously had some challenges physically over the past couple of seasons but the support I’ve received from the guys, and the club in general, has been incredible.

“Absolutely love this group and I think we are heading in the right direction so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together.”

NICKS SINGLES OUT CROWS’ BIG PROBLEM

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says his side has to fix its issues in “red time”.

The Crows, who will be known as Kuwarna this weekend, will take on West Coast on Sunday at Adelaide Oval looking to bounce back from a 10-point loss to Collingwood.

The 10-point loss to the Pies was the Crows fourth defeat of the season and a theme has emerged.

In their losses to Gold Coast, Geelong and then the Pies, the Crows have given up goals in the final minutes of terms - allowing their opponents to get momentum going into the break.

Nicks said the Crows needed to stop this.

“Big one is red time, the last five minutes of the quarter for us,” he said.

“When we go over the season it is an area of concern for us, we are just leaking goals late on in quarters.

“So we are having a look at that, from a structural point of view, what mode we are in at the time but also our mindset.

“The games that we have lost have unfortunately been the ones where we are the worst in that space.

On the weekend I think we had six odd goals kicked in the last three minutes of quarters.”

Nicks said it wasn’t a physical thing for the Crows, but more about remaining concentrated for the entire quarter.

“It is an important time of the game because the momentum going into breaks, what can it do from a mental point of view our opposition gets their tails up and we have to re-set and start again,” he said.

“I think we understand what it is and sometimes it is concentration.

“So the ability to see the quarter out and not being content with putting 22 odd minutes out on the park and limping your way into a break.

“So it is a concentration thing for us, our guys have acknowledged that they want to work on it and our leadership group have spent some time talking through it.

“So we will put some things in place on the weekend that we hope won’t take our focus away from what we do well but will make sure we are in the right headspace coming to the end of the quarter.”

Originally published as Adelaide Crows defender Wayne Milera signs new deal ahead of West Coast clash