The Lowdown: Wayne Milera’s ‘rabble’ comment overreaction proves footy world still needs to grow up

Embarrassing, rabble – same thing? If Jack Riewoldt wants to slam Wayne Milera, he better not complain when the Crows players stick to every cliche in the book from here.

It was all about the Crows this week – and not just because the Power had the bye.

Adelaide’s demolition of Sydney made the footy world take notice, as did Wayne Milera’s post-match comments.

But, as Simeon Thomas-Wilson writes in this week’s likes and dislikes, that same footy world needs to grow up.

DISLIKES

Do we want robots?

We can’t have any complaints if for the rest of the year Adelaide players stick to every cliche in the book when it comes to interviews.

One week at a time, credit to the boys, playing your role, you name it.

Because god forbid if Wayne Milera says Sydney “were sort of a bit of a rabble” when asked post-game on ABC radio if the Crows spoke about the Swans looking “rattled” early on at the SCG.

Did anyone actually think that Milera was being disrespectful or had any malice in his comments about Sydney?

Crows captain Jordan Dawson on Monday said Milera is “the most polite, genuine, caring guy probably in the team”.

You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who is involved with the Crows to dispute this.

Also did anyone actually think that the Swans were not a rabble on Saturday night?

Sydney was not offended by the comments, which was telling, and Swans coach Dean Cox said his side’s performance was “unacceptable and embarrassing” especially with it being the 20-year reunion of the club’s 2005 premiership.

Embarrassing, rabble, same thing?

The Crows could have well and truly thought the Swans were a rabble on Saturday night on the field – because that’s what Cox’s side were as they gave up free kicks, 50m penalties and bickered amongst themselves.

But it doesn’t mean the Crows would at all think that the Swans are a rabble as a club – because there’s not a person in the competition who would think that.

The Crows obviously thought they were doing the right thing by getting on the front foot and clarifying the comments with the Swans, so it doesn’t put any more pressure on Cox than he is currently facing given the slide of last year’s grand finalists.

Especially since the Crows have had times over the past couple of years where many would say they were a rabble – and there is a desire to win the right way and with humility.

But it is almost a lose/lose for them in contacting the Swans to clarify the comment, with the Crows shouldn’t have apologised narrative quickly rearing its head.

Wayne Milera celebrates a goal in the big win. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The Swans leave the SCG after the humiliation. Picture: Mark Evans/AFL Photos

It again shows that we are miles behind other sports in maturity.

We all want athletes to be honest and not robots in interviews and have some personality.

Yet we have Jack Riewoldt – who inadvertently made headlines Richmond wouldn’t have wanted when he was still playing through his honesty – quickly slamming Milera for his comments.

And last year, Essendon felt it had to apologise to the Western Bulldogs when Sam Draper said on a podcast that players would request a trade if Luke Beveridge remained senior coach.

Well, what happened? Multiple players requested a trade from the Dogs at the end of the year.

Do we want players to be honest or do we want robots?

LIKES

Crows recruiting

Justin Reid has copped it from Crows fans, and external critics, over the journey.

But the Crows list manager should be feeling pretty good about things right now.

It’s been a long time but the Crows are finally on the other side of the rebuild.

Barring a disaster the finals drought stretching back to 2017 will be ended this year, and the only question is can the Crows actually be a contender in 2025?

Because they now have a side that is as dangerous as any in the competition.

Bottoming out and getting a number of high draft picks in such as Riley Thilthorpe, Josh Rachele and Dan Curtin helps.

Ben Keays has been a great piece of recruiting. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

But it has been the recruiting from other clubs that has really helped the Crows.

Captain Jordan Dawson, leadership group members Alex Neal-Bullen and Ben Keays, star Izak Rankine, Isaac Cumming, James Peatling and Mitch Hinge have all come from other clubs since the Crows decided to undergo a large rebuild at the end of 2019.

Keays and Hinge were both delisted by Brisbane, Dawson came to the Crows from the Swans for pick 18.

Reid and the Crows recruiting department might have overpaid massively for Bryce Gibbs in 2017 but those moves above have been as shrewd as they come.

And importantly for the Crows, some luck has gone their way.

The Western Bulldogs matched their bid for Jamarra Ugle-Hagan in 2020.

Josh Rachele's goal assist of the year

Jason Horne-Francis will be and is a star but instead of giving up three first round picks to North Melbourne to have the No. 1 pick and draft the South Australian gun those selections ended helping the Crows get Dawson, Rachele and Rankine to West Lakes.

A SANFL father-son ruling actually went their way with Max Michalanney tied to the club.

The Crows were massively into Harrison Petty but him staying at the Demons hasn’t hurt Adelaide at all.

A fully firing Clayton Oliver would have added loads to the Crows midfield but how much salary cap room would have that taken up?

Even missing out on Jack Lukosius to Port Adelaide last year, would have winning the race for him meant they could not afford Cumming and Peatling on top of Neal-Bullen?

You sometimes need a bit of luck for a plan to come together.

Originally published as The Lowdown: Wayne Milera’s ‘rabble’ comment overreaction proves footy world still needs to grow up