Draftee Wayne Milera Junior says he’s just hoping for another opportunity after a promising Club debut in Adelaide’s NAB Challenge win over an inexperienced West Coast on Sunday.
Milera, 18, was one of five players to make his Crows debut at Unley Oval.
Adelaide’s first pick (No.11 overall) in last year’s AFL National Draft, the agile and skilful wingman displayed his trademark composure in Adelaide’s 100-point win.
Of his 12 possessions (at 83 per cent efficiency), nine led to Crows scores. Milera also generated five inside 50ms.
In the second quarter, he put a perfectly weighted kick into the path of Eddie Betts, who found space inside 50m and handed the ball off to Josh Jenkins. Milera then pinpointed a pass to Sam Jacobs on the lead.
“I thought I did some good things here and there,” Milera said of his performance on debut.
“You’ve always got stuff you can improve on and I’m sure I’ll find some stuff in the match review.
“When I first got out there, it was really quick. I took a little bit of time to adjust. It was a step up from SANFL footy and even match sim at training.”
A Crows supporter growing up, Milera was excited to pull on the jumper for the first time.
“I woke up a bit early. I was just sitting, waiting around home and had little butterflies in my stomach, but once I got here I was fine,” he said.
“It was surreal … even to play with players I’ve watched growing up. You have to kinda slap yourself and (realise) I’m playing with these boys, I’m in the team. It was good.”
Fellow first-gamers Dean Gore, Harry Dear and Mitch McGovern also showed glimpses on Sunday.
Gore, 19, kicked two goals from his 13 possessions and also took six marks. Dear, who also kicked a goal, presented strongly as a forward and in the ruck, and McGovern showed his goal sense with a clever left-foot snap to kick his first goal in the last quarter.
Wingman Paul Seedsman also had some nice touches in his first game since switching from Collingwood.
All five players will be hoping to retain their spots in the team for next week’s clash with Fremantle in country Western Australia. Coach Don Pyke has already declared age as “irrelevant” and Milera said the onus was on the young players to keep improving and performing.
“I just want to get another opportunity to play,” he said.
“It would be good to go over to Mount Barker, I think it is, and play there. I just want to get more opportunities and build up a resume of footy.”